Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-vinyl triethoxysilane) Prepared by Free Radical Polymerization

Abstract

The copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with vinyl triethoxysilane (VTES) was carried out in ethyl cellosolve at 70 ℃ using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a free radical initiator. The prepared copolymer was purified and then analysed by FT-IR, NMR, TGA and SEM analyses. FT-IR along with NMR confirm the successful preparation of the copolymer. The prepared copolymer shows better thermal stability than poly(methyl methacrylate). A morphological study was also carried out by SEM analysis. SEM micrographs show that the copolymer surface gets roughened and becomes porous on copolymerization.