Analysis for the Reaction of Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate/Benzoyl Peroxide/Polymethacrylate Through DSC and Viscosity Changing and Their Resultants as Oil Absorbent

Abstract

Polymethacrylate was firstly synthesized via suspension polymerization of the monomers including butyl methacrylate (BMA) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator. Then a mixture was prepared by mixing the synthesized polymethacrylate with the solution of HEMA and BPO and preserved in a sealed container for 24 h. Thereafter, we employed a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) to monitor the reaction process of HEMA involved in the mixture at a constant heating rate. The viscosity changing with time for the above mixture was also measured by a rotating viscometer at 85°C with N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as diluting agent. Finally, the results of DSC test and viscosity test were analyzed for revealing the reaction mechanism of HEMA involved in the above mixture. Based on this analysis, we chose suitable technology parameters for the above-prepared mixture's reactive extrusion. During the reactive extrusion, the polymerization of HEMA was initiated and the generated PHEMA built an interpenetrating polymer network with the synthesized polymethacrylate by H-bonds to make the extruded resultant applicable for oil absorbent. Then the oil-absorptive capacity of the extruded resultant was characterized through oil absorbency, remaining ratio, and gel fraction, and its internal morphology was observed by polarizing microscope and field emission scanning electron microscopy.