STUDIES ON CROSS-LINKED TRANSPARENT ACRYLIC PANELS

The effects of allylmethacrylate on the copolymer of allylmethacrylate and methylmethacrylate have been studied by varying the allylmethacry late content in the feed from 5% to 30% by volume. It has been found t hat above 15% allylmethacrylate content in the feed, the molecular wei ght between crosslinks increases, reducing the crosslink density and t hereby causing a reduction in the mechanical properties. Up to 10% all ylmethacrylate, the strength remains high and the modulus also increas es; and up to 15% the modulus increases but the strength value drops d own. There is a sharp drop in both strength and modulus after 15%. Thu s the addition of 10% allylmethacrylate has been found to give the opt imum mechanical properties.