Thermal and oxidative degradation of vinyl triethoxy silane - methyl methacrylate copolymers

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was copolymerized with vinyl triethoxy silane (VTES) using (CO)-C-60-gamma radiaton at varying ratios of the monomers. The homopolymers PMMA and PVTES were also prepared by the same method. The thermal stabilities and activation energies for the thermal and oxidative degradation reactions of these samples were studied by thermogravimetry. It was observed that the incorporation of PVTES segments in the copolymers decreased the thermal stability of PMMA, as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis. The activation energies for the degradation process in both N-2 and O-2 atmospheres of copolymers calculated by Freeman - Carroll method with Jeres correction decreased with increasing mole fraction of VTES. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.