Thermal analysis of the polymerization process on the surface of inorganic fillers

The thermal polymerization of pentabromobenzyl (mono)acrylate (PBB-MA) on the surface of the inorganic fillers Mg(OH)2 and CaCO3 was studied. FTIR spectroscopy and extraction of the polymer in bromobenzene show that polypentabromobenzyl acrylate (PBB-PA) was mostly grafted on the surface of Mg(OH)2. Thermal analysis (TG, DSC, isothermal DSC (IDSC)) demonstrated an increase in polymerization starting temperature, and differences in polymerization enthalpy and apparent activation energy when an inorganic filler is added. These differences depend on the chemical composition of the filler used.