A study of the thermal degradation of methyl methacrylate polymers and copolymers by thermal volatilization analysis

Polymers of methyl methacrylate, of various molecular weights and prepared by radical and anionic mechanisms, have been examined. The thermal stability has been found to be highly dependent both on the method of preparation and on the molecular weight of the polymer. Comonomers in the methyl methacrylate chain in general have a profound effect on the stability. The effects of the presence of phenyl acetylene, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and n-butyl acrylates, styrene, and ethyl methacrylate have been studied.