Thermal degradation of blends of allyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymers with aluminum ethoxide

The thermal stability of blends of allyl methacrylate-methyl methacryalte ( AMA-MMA) copolymers with aluminum ethoxide [Al(OC2H5)(3)] has been investig ated in an inert atmosphere using thermogravimetry-differential thermogravi metry (TG-DTG) and under vacuum using thermal volatilization analysis (TVA) . The condensable volatile degradation products from the TVA experiments we re separated by sub-ambient TVA and investigated by IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The degradation produ cts from the blends consisted of some additional products, i.e. ethylene, i sobutene, ethanol, allyl alcohol, methacrylic acid, ethyl methacrylate and a cyclic compound, apart from similar products obtained from the copoly mer s when degraded alone. The mechanism of formation of degradation products f rom the blends is altered in presence of Al(OC2H5)(3) and is discussed in d etail. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.