Effect of the length of side ester groups of polymethacrylates on the rheological properties of their solutions in hydrated monomers

Abstract

The rheological properties of concentrated solutions of “comb-like” polyalkylmethacrylates (PMA) were investigated in their hydrated monomers. It is shown that solutions of PMA with up to six carbon atoms in side ester groups have viscous flow anomalies which decrease with increasing length of the side chains and increase with rising molecular weight of the polymers. Solutions of MPA that have six or more carbon atoms in the side groups do not exhibit anomalous viscous flow over the ranges of shear rates and molecular weights examined. The viscosity of the PMA solutions is reduced on increasing the number of carbon atoms in the side ester groups.