Synthesis and Study on Thermal Stability of PMMA Microspheres by Emulsion Polymerization

Abstract Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was prepared by emulsion polymerization using methyl methacrylate (MMA) as monomer, potassium per sulfate as initiator. Polymethyl methacrylate/mesoporous molecular sieve composite (PMMA/MCM-48) was synthesized via the addition of mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-48 silica nanomaterial. The synthesized samples were systematically characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, and TG. The results showed that PMMA microspheres with a diameter of 80-110 nm were prepared by emulsion polymerization. Compared with pure PMMA, PMMA/mesopores molecular sieve MCM-48 composites have good thermal stability. Pure PMMA microspheres can be completely decomposed at a lower temperature (400°C), and the thermal stability of PMMA/MCM-48 composites were improved by the addition of mesoporous molecular sieves.