UV degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) and its vinyltriethoxysilane containing copolymers

Abstract

The photodegradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES)–methyl methacrylate (MMA) copolymer films was studied by UV irradation (λ=259 nm). Evidence for the photodegradation of PMMA and copolymers was found in the different FT–IR and UV–VIS spectra. The scission of ester side-groups of PMMA were determined by using FT–IR and UV–VIS difference spectra. However, in the same process of the copolymers, both scission of the ester side-groups and crosslinking occur simultaneously. It is observed that UV irradation causes changes of the mechanical properties of PMMA and copolymers.