Thermal degradation of mixtures of poly(methyl methacrylate) and silver acetate

The degradation behavior of silver acetate—PMMA blends at salt/polymer ratios of 1:1, 1:5, and 1:10 has been studied by using thermal volatilization analysis (TVA) as the principal technique. Degradation of the salt has also been examined; it gives a variety of products best explained by a series of reactions resulting from an initial cleavage of CH3COO. radicals and silver atoms. Silver acetate, when present with PMMA during degradation, results in a severe destabilization of the polymer, which breaks down to monomer at a high rate at temperatures as low as 200°C. This effect is explained by diffusion of radicals from silver acetate decomposition into the polymer phase, in which they initiate chain scission and depolymerization.