Plasticization in Unclustered Poly(methyl methacrylate) Ionomers

摘要

The dynamic mechanical properties of the unclustered cesium neutralized poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) ionomers plasticized with three different plasticizers of low molecular weight were investigated. It was found that the effectiveness of the plasticization followed the order: glycerol (Gly) 4-decylaniline (4DA) >dioctyl phthalate (DOP). For the ionomer plasticized with Gly, the only effect was a significant decrease in the Tg. Thus it is concluded that the polar plasticizer not only increases the mobility of the ionomer but also dissolves the ionic groups. In the case of the 4DA-plasticized ionomer, both a drastic decrease in the Tg and the appearance of a second glass transition were observed. Therefore, it is suggested that the nonpolar 4DA molecules partition evenly in the poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix and cluster phases via hydrogen bonding between the aniline group of the plasticizer and the carbonyl groups of the ionomer. As a result, the Tg is lowered, multiplets can form, and the material behaves like a clustered ionomer.