Preparation of hydroxyapatite/poly(methyl methacrylate) and calcium silicate/poly(methyl methacrylate) interpenetrating hybrid composites

Hydroxyapatite/poly(methyl methacrylate) (HAp/PMMA) and calcium silicate/poly(methyl methacrylate) (CS/PMMA) composites were prepared by interpenetrating bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer in porous structures of HAp and CS. The porous HAp and CS templates were prepared by mixing their calcined powders with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution, shaping by uniaxial pressing and then firing at 1,100 °C for HAp and 900 °C for CS. The templates were soaked in the solution mixture of MMA monomer and 0.1 mol% of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) for 24 h. The pre-composites were then bulk polymerized at 85 °C for 24 h under nitrogen atmosphere. The microstructures of the composites showed the interpenetrating of PMMA into the porous HAp and CS structures. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the PMMA content in the HAp/PMMA and CS/PMMA composites were 13 and 26 wt%, respectively. Weight average molecular weights ( ) of PMMA were about 491,000 for HAp/PMMA composites and about 348,000 for CS/PMMA composites. Compressive strengths of these composites were about 90–131 MPa in which they were significantly higher than their starting porous templates.     

Mechanical behaviour of poly(methyl methacrylate)

A series of tensile and three-point bending studies was conducted at various temperatures and loading rates using a commercial poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Tensile properties and fracture toughness data were obtained for the various conditions. In general, both tensile strength and fracture toughness increase with increasing loading rate and decreasing temperatur E. However, when the temperature reaches the glass transition region, the relationships between fracture toughness, loading rate, and temperature become very complex. This behaviour is due to the simultaneous interaction of viscoelasticity and localized plastic deformation. In the glass transition region, the fracture mechanism changes from a brittle to a ductile mode of failure. A failure envelope constructed from tensile tests suggests that the maximum elongation that the glassy PMMA can withstand without failure is about 130%. The calculated apparent activation energies suggest that the failure process of thermoplastic polymers (at least PMMA) follows a viscoelastic process, either glass or transition. The former is the case if crack initiation is required.Deceased.     

Electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers and microparticles

Electrospinning at relatively low polymer concentrations results in particles rather than fibers. This particle-formation process can be termed as electrospray. So electrospinning/electrospray is a highly versatile method to process fibers and particles with different morphologies. In this work, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) micro- and nanostructures with different morphologies (fibers, spheres, cup-like, and ring-like) have been produced by a facile electrospinning/electrospray method. PMMA was electrospun into various morphologies from only DMF without any other solvents. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images demonstrate the different morphologies and prove this technique to be an effective method for obtaining morphology-controllable polymer materials by changing the processing parameters. These micro- and nanostructured polymer materials may find applications in drug delivery and filtration media.     

Environmentally-affected indentation fracture in poly(ethersulphone) and poly(methyl methacrylate)

The effect of plasticization on the ductile-to-brittle fracture transitions (DBFT) in the ball indentation of poly (ethersulphone) (PES) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) has been studied. The DBFT in various organic liquids are governed by a size effect related to the indenter radius, in accordance with the Puttick theory of fracture transitions. In addition, abrasive wear rates of the polymers in these liquids are shown to correlate with the critical indenter radius needed to produce a fracture transition, owing to the connection with fracture toughness.     

Mechanical properties of blends of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylidene fluoride)

The mechanical properties of blends of the crystallizable polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride) and the amorphous material poly(methyl methacrylate) have been investigated as a function of composition both for glassy amorphous materials and for partially crystalline materials. The data obtained were interpreted in terms of the molecular and super-molecular structure of the blends and in terms of their dynamic properties.The main conclusions were that the mechanical properties are not strongly dependent on details of the distribution of the two components in the material nor on the crystal modifications present. The mechanical properties were found to depend primarily on the location of the glass transition temperature relative to the elongation temperature and on the presence or absence of crystalline regions. The degree of crystallinity was found to play an important role in determining the properties only at lower values of this quantity. The advantage of these blends is that the important parameters, namely, the degree of crystallinity and the location of the glass transition temperature, can be adjusted at will by varying the composition appropriately. This allows well-defined variations of the mechanical properties to be achieved.     

Feasibility study of friction spot welding of dissimilar single-lap joint between poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(methyl methacrylate)-SiO2 nanocomposite

In this work, the feasibility of friction spot welding (FSpW) of a commercial poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) GS grade and a PMMA 6 N/2 wt% silica (SiO₂) nanocomposite was investigated. Single-lap joints welded at rotational speeds of 1000, 2000 and 3000 rpm were produced. The analysis of the joint microstructure and material flow pattern indicated that joints could be produced using all of the tested welding conditions. However, the joint produced at 1000 rpm displayed sharp weld lines (weak links), indicating insufficient heat input, while the welds produced at 3000 rpm displayed excessive plastic deformation (bulging of the bottom plate), volumetric defects and a lack of material mixing in the welded area, associated with higher heat input. The weld produced at a rotational speed of 2000 rpm resulted in improved material mixing, which was indicated by the absence of weld lines and volumetric defects due to the more correct heat input. This welding condition was selected for further mechanical testing. Lap shear testing of PMMA GS/PMMA 6 N/2 wt% SiO₂ nanocomposite single lap joints welded at 2000 rpm resulted in an average ultimate lap shear strength of 3.9 ± 0.05 MPa. These weld strength values are equal to or better than those obtained using state-of-the-art welding techniques for PMMA materials, thereby demonstrating the potential of friction spot welding for thermoplastic nanocomposites.     

Strength of poly(methyl methacrylate) with indentation flaws

Controlled flaws were introduced into poly(methyl methacrylate) samples in the presence of liquid acetone using a Vickers indenter over a range of indentation loads from 100 to 1400 N. Due to the large plastic zone underneath the indenter, the radial crack formed by indentation consisted of two halves, known as Palmqvist cracks, instead of a single semicircular crack. The strengths of the samples were measured in air either immediately following indentation or after a stress-relief anneal. The strength of the as-indented samples was about 6% less than that of the annealed samples; however, the dependence of strength on indentation load was similar for both sets of samples. These results were interpreted in terms of an indentation fracture mechanics model. The analysis is consistent with poly(methyl methacrylate) having a rising fracture toughness with increasing crack size.     

In situ polymerization preparation of blends of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile)

The in situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) was studied. The PMMA/SAN in situ polymerization blends obtained were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The blends with compositions of 95/5, 80/20, 70/30, and 60/40 in weight ratios were miscible and had a single phase structure. However, the 90/10 PMMA/SAN in situ polymerization blend obtained was inhomogeneous and had a two-phase structure; polymerization-induced phase separation occurred during the preparation process of the blend. Both tensile strength and elongation at break increase with increasing SAN content up to 30 wt%. The degradation temperature and thermal stability of PMMA increased remarkably on incorporation of SAN up to 30 wt%.     

Tensile behaviour of blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) with poly(methyl methacrylate)

Blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were prepared over a wide concentration range and tested in tension at the same relative temperature below the glass transition. Testing was performed at strain rates ranging from 10 to 0.01 min^–1 at test temperatures fromT _g-40 toT _g-10. By normalizing the test temperature to fixed increments belowT _g, blends and homopolymers can be compared on the basis of PVF₂ and PMMA composition and crystallinity. In nearly all blends, under conditions favouring disentanglement, (decrease in strain rate, or increase in test temperature), the yield stress and drawing stress decreased while the breaking strain increased. For materials with about the same degree of crystallinity, those with a higher proportion of amorphous PVF₂ exhibited brittle-like behaviour as a result of interlamellar tie molecules. In the semicrystalline blends, yield stress remains high as the test temperature approachesT _g, whereas in the amorphous blends the yield stress falls to zero nearT _g. Results of physical ageing support the role of interlamellar ties which cause semicrystalline blends to exhibit ageing at temperatures aboveT _g.     

Properties of biocomposites from waste seashells and poly(methyl methacrylate)

The paper presents the preparation of biocomposites from waste seashells as reinforcement and poly(methyl methacrylate), abbreviated as PMMA as the matrix. The used seashells belong to the snow‐white Bahamian species of tiger lucine (Codakia orbicularis) from the Island of Coco Cay. Seashells were grinded and homogenized with poly(methyl methacrylate) powder, with the seashell powder content ranging between 2 and 14 wt%, and finally hot pressed. Morphology of prepared composites was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, and it was determined that the particle distribution was homogenous with no agglomeration. Mechanical properties (microhardness, compressive strength, Young's modulus) of biocomposite materials produced from different amount of waste seashells in poly (methyl methacrylate) were determined and analyzed. The best overall combination of mechanical properties was achieved when 6 wt% of seashell particles below 50 μm size were added to poly (methyl methacrylate).     

Holographic characterization of azo-dye doped poly (methyl methacrylate) films

Many holographic techniques have been developed for non-destructive studies and characterization of materials. In this paper, discussion will be made about the employed holographic technique to characterize the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrices doped with azo-dyes. In this manner we were able to study the effect of the thickness of the samples, the effect of concentration of the azo-dyes and of PMMA and the effect of aging (storage time) on the holographic efficiency (diffraction efficiency) of these materials. Auto-erasable holographic gratings have been successfully recorded on azo-dye doped PMMA films and the dynamic diffraction efficiency was monitored with light different from that used for the recording.     

Fatigue failure of poly(methyl methacrylate) in alcohol environments

Fatigue tests of poly(methyl methacrylate) were conducted in environments of methanol, 1-butanol, and 1-octanol at room temperature under cyclic tensile loading at 10 Hz. The fatigue lifetime increased as the molar volume of the environmental alcohol increased, and indicated no correlation with the solubility parameter. The scanning electron micrographs of the fracture surfaces reveal that crazes strongly participate in the fatigue fracture, and suggest that a great increase in the fatigue lifetime in methanol brought about by pre-soaking the specimen in methanol for a period below 100 h, which has been previously reported, is caused by the combined effects both of the case II diffusion of methanol producing the softened matter and the internal compressive stress in the swollen surface layer and of a cooperative work of crazing, shear flow and/or shear cracking taking place under cyclic tensile loading.     

Wettability of poly(methyl methacrylate) surfaces in dental use

Poly(methyl methacrylate) is widely used in dentistry. In contact with water, there is an increase in the polar surface free energy from 9.5 to 21 mJ m^–2. Various other surface modification treatments have been examined (chemical treatment, gold deposition and flaming), which also bring about a surface polar component increase and thus produce a better wettability in contact with water or saliva. The water modification seems to be the best treatment.     

Dynamic crack propagation behaviour of rubber-toughened poly(methyl methacrylate)

Dynamic crack propagation has been studied in detail for a series of transparent rubber-toughened samples of poly(methyl methacrylate) using a combination of high-speed photography and the optical method of transmitted caustics. The dynamic stress intensity factor has been measured as a function of rubber content, crack length and loading rate. The dynamic stress intensity factor is found to increase significantly as the rubber content increases, which is consistent with the improvement in impact behaviour found on the addition of rubber particles. It is proposed that the toughening takes place through crack tip blunting caused by localized shear yielding induced by the presence of the rubber particles.     

聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯包覆十二醇微胶囊的制备及表征

以相变物质正十二醇(DA)为芯材,聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)为壁材,采用悬浮聚合法制备了正十二醇-聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(DA@PMMA)微胶囊。通过差示扫描量热仪(DSC),扫描电镜(SEM),透射电镜(TEM),傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FIIR)和热重分析仪(TGA)等仪器对微胶囊进行检测表征。结果表明:当工艺为苯乙烯-马来酸甘钠盐(SMA)加入量占DA质量的7.5%,偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)加入量占单体甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)质量的7.5%,芯材壁材质量比为2∶1,搅拌速度为1 000r/min时,所制备的微胶囊整体性能最好。DA@PMMA微胶囊为球形,平均粒径26μm,DA@PMMA微胶囊中DA的质量分数为66%。DA@PMMA微胶囊的熔化焓和结晶焓分别是137.6J/g和132.8J/g。TGA和FIIR的分析表明,DA@PMMA微胶囊具有良好的性能。     

高分子量聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯的制备

通过悬浮聚合法制取了分子量在100万～150万范围的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA).研究了温度、引发剂浓度、转化率对聚合物分子量的影响情况,用粘度法测量了PMMA的分子量.结果表明:温度升高、引发剂用量增加使得聚合物分子量降低;随反应的进行和单体转化率提高,聚合物分子量增大并趋于定值.在单体:水相=1:5(质量比),过氧类引发剂浓度1%,反应温度60～70℃,反应时间5h左右的实验条件下,制备得到了高分子量PMMA.