Preparation and study of methacrylic acid copolymer‐modified acrylate resins and their composites

Abstract In recent years, thermoplastic acrylate resins have been widely used due to their excellent properties, but the thermoplastic resin has a high melt viscosity, which makes it difficult to achieve a good impregnation effect with fibers. In this paper, methacrylic acid ( MAA ) copolymer‐modified acrylate resin composites are prepared by an in‐situ polymerization/reactive chain growth impregnation process. This process improves the intermolecular forces and the interfacial bonding between resin and fiber by introducing strong polar groups of carboxylate, thus significantly improving the overall performance of the resin matrix and its glass‐fiber ( GF )–reinforced composites. Compared to the unmodified resin polymethyl methacrylate ( PMMA ), the tensile strength was increased by 14.54%, tensile modulus by 23.36%, flexural strength by 20.05%, flexural modulus by 21.62%, impact toughness by 35.98%, and Tg by 15.42%. Compared with the unmodified composite GF / PMMA , tensile strength increased by 53.68%, tensile modulus by 38.94%, flexural strength by 24.75%, flexural modulus by 7.68%, and tensile shear strength increased by 21.44%. Highlights MAA‐modified acrylate resin composites were prepared by in situ polymerization; Mechanical properties of resins were enhanced due to the formation of hydrogen bonds; Interfacial properties of composites were enhanced due to the introduction of COOH.