M. Fernandezgarcia et al., THERMAL-PROPERTIES OF ETHYL ALPHA-HYDROXYMETHYLACRYLATE-METHYL METHACRYLATE COPOLYMERS, Polymer, 35(20), 1994, pp. 4474-4478
The degradation and glass transition temperatures of a series of methy
l methacrylate (MMA)-ethyl alpha-hydroxymethylacrylate (EHMA) copolyme
rs have been studied by t.g.a./i.r. and d.s.c. Thermal degradation yie
lded intramolecular lactone and intermolecular crosslinking formation,
with concurrent loss of ethanol and/or methanol involving adjacent or
near-neighbour EHMA or MMA units. Glass transitions of copolymers hav
e been analysed as a function of sequence distribution and their value
s compared to the theoretical ones derived using Johnston's equation.
The partially degraded copolymers increased their glass transition tem
peratures as a consequence of the above mentioned lactone and crosslin
king formation.