Flexible Polymeric Materials Prepared by Radiation Copolymerization of MMA/ Pyridene in the Presence of Acrylic Acid

Gamma-irradiation initiated copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and pyridine (Py) was carried out at room temperature.To improve the obtained copolymer functionality and molecular weight, acrylic acid (AA) was incorporated into the mixture during irradiation. The samples were characterized by thermal analysis techniques (DSC and TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-VIS spectrometry. Molecular weight of the obtained copolymers was determined using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The variation of refractive index and surface hardness with the molecular weight were also investigated. The results obtained show a decrease in glass transition temperature and the hardness (shore D) of the supporting matrix for P(MMA/Py) copolymers with a pronounced increase of the molecular weight. The addition of PAA into the matrix enhanced the hardness and shifts the glass transition temperature to a little higher temperature with a pronounced decrease in the melting temperature. The obtained materials maintain good structural order and flexibility resulting from the softening effect of pyridine onto MMA matrix. The studies performed made possible the selection of experimental conditions to be adequate for the production of new co polymeric materials with high molecular weight that having good flexibility and transparent properties.