Adjustment in physicochemical properties of PMMA particles through different photopolymerization methods to achieve their functional applications in various scenarios

Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a polymeric compound synthesized from its monomer unit methyl methacrylate (MMA). PMMA is usually processed into particles and the functional application of these particles has been promoted in various fields such as biomedicine, coatings, and optical devices. At present, the preparation process for PMMA particles in industrialization mostly relies on thermal polymerization. Still, the traditional thermal-initiated mode has high energy consumption and long cycles, so it is urgent to explore new approaches for preparing PMMA particles with low energy and high efficiency. Photopolymerization is an effective medium for achieving this goal and has the advantages of fast curing, mild reaction conditions, and environmental protection. Therefore, this review summarizes the photoinitiated preparation methods of PMMA particles, including emulsion photopolymerization, dispersion photopolymerization, controlled/living radical photopolymerization, surface-initiated photopolymerization, and in situ photopolymerization. Furthermore, the functional application of PMMA particles based on these photopolymerization methods is further introduced and prospected.