Thermoreversible gelation of isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) in butyl acetate: a differential scanning calorimetry study

Abstract The thermal behaviour of thermoreversible gels prepared well below room temperature from isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (i‐PMMA) in butyl acetate (BAC) was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry. Gel‐formation and gel‐melting enthalpies together with melting enthalpy of the solvent were determined as functions of polymer concentration. The results are consistent with the existence of a polymer/solvent complex with a stoichiometry of 1,5–2 BAC molecules per i‐PMMA monomeric unit.