PHYSICOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE-CO-N-ARYLMALEIMIDES)

The article describes the effect of incorporating low mol fractions of N-o-tolylmaleimide (MO)/N-p-tolylmaleimide (MP) in poly(methyl methac rylate) (PMMA) on T-g, thermal behavior, mechanical, and optical prope rties. The glass transition temperature (T-g) of PMMA increased by 10- 12 degrees C upon incorporation of an similar to 0.026 mol fraction of N-arylmaleimides. maleimides. A further increase of N-arylmaleimide c ontent up to 0.1 mol fraction in the copolymers resulted in a further similar to 10 degrees C increase in T-g. The tensile strength and % el ongation decreased, whereas modulus increased with increasing maleimid e content. The solar transmittance and % transmittance at higher wavel engths of the copolymer sheets having a low mol fraction of N-arylmale imides (i.e., 0.026-0.05) were comparable to PMMA. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.