Thermal stability and degradation of selected poly(alkyl methacrylates) used in the polymer industry

This article describes our results for the thermal stability and thermal degradation of poly(alkyl methacrylates) based on selected methacrylate monomers, namely methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, which are used in the polymer industry in the manufacture of construction polymers, polymeric films, and a wide range of adhesives. Quantitative analyses of the thermal degradation products of poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(butyl methacrylate), and poly(2-ethylhexyl methacrylate) were performed, principally with pyrolysis–gas chromatography at temperatures between 200 and 400 °C. The dependencies of the thermal stabilities of the tested poly(alkyl methacrylates) on their molecular weight were investigated. The major degradation products are the corresponding methacrylate monomers; the other thermal degradation by-products are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, ethane, methanol, ethanol, and 1-propanol.