Poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites involving aromatic diboronic acid

In this work, poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, composites involving various amounts of aromatic diboronic acid, BDBA, in the absence and presence of organically modified montmorillonite, Cloisite 30B, C30B, were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry analyses. Morphologic analyses indicated homogenous dispersion of additives in PMMA matrix. Increase in thermal stability of PMMA was observed as the amount of BDBA incorporated into polymer matrix was increased. Strong evidences for interactions between the hydroxyl groups of diboronic acid and the ester groups of PMMA were detected. The increase in thermal stability was associated with these reactions producing also a cross-linked structure.