| Abstract: | The technique of polymerizing methyl methacrylate (MMA) in water using sodium bisulphite as initiator in presence of various substances and metal powders was extended to Casuarina sawdust which was used either without or after being washed with water or solvents. The percentage of conversion of monomer to polymer increased with increase of Casuarina sawdust and with increase of temperature. In absence of sawdust, the average molecular weights of the polymers obtained increased with increasing concentration of sodium bisulphite initiator under the studied conditions, while the reverse was true in the presence of sawdust. Some of the Casuarina sawdust-PMMA-composites prepared had high compressive strength depending on the content of polymer and its distribution in the composite. |
