The properties of some higher polymethacrylic esters

Although the properties of polymethyl methncrylate have been widely reported in the scientific and technical literature, few 1 references appear to studies of the properties of the higher‐polyalkyl methacrylates. The present paper deals with examination or re‐examination of a number of polymeric higher methacrylic esters undertaken with a view to obtaining information on the influence of thee alcohol alkyl chain length, and of branching in this chain on the properties of the polymer. Polymers have been examined of all the alkyl methacrylates up to the butyl series. Of the amyl hexyl and octyl series a selection has been prepared out of the many possible isomers, the choice having been indicated by the results of work on the lower homologues. Attempts have been made to explain differences in the properties of the polymers mainly on the basis of induction due to methyl groups in the alcohol alkyl radicals. This would be only one of numerous causes of differences in properties, but the assumption that it is important has led to results which appear to be of sufficient interest to discuss in the present paper.