Thermal degradation of blends of allyl methacrylate–methyl methacrylate copolymers with aluminum ethoxide

Abstract

The thermal stability of blends of allyl methacrylate–methyl methacryalte (AMA–MMA) copolymers with aluminum ethoxide [Al(OC 2H 5) 3] has been investigated in an inert atmosphere using thermogravimetry–differential thermogravimetry (TG–DTG) and under vacuum using thermal volatilization analysis (TVA). The condensable volatile degradation products from the TVA experiments were separated by sub-ambient TVA and investigated by IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) techniques. The degradation products from the blends consisted of some additional products, i.e. ethylene, isobutene, ethanol, allyl alcohol, methacrylic acid, ethyl methacrylate and a cyclic compound, apart from similar products obtained from the copolymers when degraded alone. The mechanism of formation of degradation products from the blends is altered in presence of Al(OC 2H 5) 3 and is discussed in detail.