In situ Catalytic Bulk Copolymerization of Maleate Surfmer-Methyl Methacrylate Using TiO2 and V2O5 at Different Conditions

Non-ionic Maleate surfmer (M1) prepared via ring opening reaction of maleic anhydride followed by esterfaction with polyethylene glycol. Surfmer was homopolymerized and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (M2) at different conditions using TiO2 and V2O5 as catalysts in presence of O2 or N2. The chemical structure of the prepared surfmer was confirmed by FTIR, 13C and 1HNMR. The produced copolymers was also confirmed and characterized by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) after cleaning polymers. Also, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated higher thermal stability for M1M2TN and M1M2VO composites relative to pure PMMA. Scanning and transmission electron microscope (SEM and TEM) for PMMA and M1M2TN may confirm homogeneous and controlled enchainment of M1-M2 copolymer using TiO2 at the optimum conditions. The polymer conversion% was calculated and discussed. The optimum conditions resulted in 64.2% and 63.8% conversion using 20% TiO2 in N2 and 10% V2O5 in O2 respectively at 80°C after 4h with M1/M2 molar ratio of 1:1.The interfacial tension properties for the prepared surfmer and its copolymer was evaluated.