SYNTHESIS OF THE TERPOLYMER METHYL METHACRYLATE- STYRENE-BIS(4-METHACRYLOYLMETHYLPHENYL)-SULPHONE

Bis(4-methacryloylmethylphenyl)-sulphone (BMMPhSu) was employed as one of three monomers used for obtaining the terpolymer MMA-St-BMMPhSu. The influence of curing systems: benzoyl peroxide (BP) and NN-dimethylaniline (DMA), [system I] and luperox (L), NN-dimethylaniline and cobalt naphthenate (Co), [system II], on gelation time of 20% solution of BMMPhSu in the mixed solvent methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) used in 1:1 ratio was studied. Concentration of ingredients of curing systems was variable. The influence of concentration of BMMPhSu in the compositions, and concentration of MMA and St in the solvent, was also investigated. Compositions consisting of curing system and BMMPhSu solution in the mixed solvent MMA-St were polymerized by the use of the same curing system BP(4%) + DMA(6%). In this way six terpolymer films were obtained. The curing system L(6%) + DMA(8%) + Co(2%) was also used for polymerization of the above mentioned solutions, except the solvent containing 10% MMA, and additional 5 films of terpolymer were obtained. Films were heated at 80°C for 4 hrs and then next cut into strips. The strips were tested for mechanical properties like tensile strength, elongation at break, Young's modulus, Brinnell's and Shore's hardness. Their thermal properties and glass transition temperatures were also determined.