Rajesh Kumar Bhagat

Prof. Giridhar Madras

Dept. of Chemical Engineering
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Advisor
Synthesis, Characterization and Ultrasonic
Degradation Of Poly(n-butyl methacrylate-co-methyl
acrylate)
CONTENT
Introduction
Motivation
Method
Results
Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
Polymers are macromolecules build by linking large
number of smaller molecules.
Per capita consumption of polymer in India is 5 kg and
world average is 26 kg.
Most of the polymers are fossil fuel based and their
disposal is a common problem.
MOTIVATION
Copolymers of n-butyl methacrylate with methyl acrylate
have not been investigated before.
These copolymers may exhibit superior properties than
the homopolymers
Ultrasonic degradation of the homopolymers and
copolymers has been studied in this work.
METHOD
oExperimental
Monomers





n-Butyl methacrylate Methyl acrylate

oPolymerization
Bulk polymerization at 60
o
C
METHOD..
Copolymers of n-butyl methacrylate(BMA) and methyl
acrylate(MA) were formed by bulk polymerization.
Different molar ratio of monomers (BMA:MA)
(40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 75:25) was taken.

METHOD
oHomo and Copolymers


Poly(n-butyl methacrylate) Poly(methyl acrylate)




Poly(n-butyl methacrylate-co-methyl acrylate)

SETUP FOR ULTRASONIC DEGRADATION
Water jacket
Ultrasonic horn
Polymer solution
Fig. Experimental setup for ultrasonic degradation
Water in
Water out
CHARACTERISTICS OF ULTRASONIC DEGRADATION
Mid chain scission due to mechanical stress.
Degradation rate depends on chain length.
No degradation below a limiting molecular weight.
Generally no chemical reaction considered during
degradation.
Polymer degradation is due to mechanical stress created due
to cavitation.


Kennedy J. E. , Nature Reviews Cancer 5, 321-327 (April 2005)

GEL PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY
oGPC System
Water 510 HPLC pump
Styragel HR 5E, HR 4, HR 1 size exclusion column
Rheodyne 7725i injector
Water 2410 diffrential refrectrometer
o Eluent
Tetrahydrofuran(THF)
Flow rate: 1ml/min
oCalibration
Narrow molecular weight
polystyrene standard
THEORETICAL MODEL
Continuous distribution Kinetics was used to determine
degradation rate coefficient.
By ultrasonic degradation polymer breaks from
midpoint.


Population Balance equation for this system will be




( )
( ) 2 ( / 2)
k x
P x P x
( , )
( ) ( , ) 2 ( ') ( ', ) ( ' 2) '
x
p x t
k x p x t k x p x t x x dx
t
o

c
= +
c
}
Applying moment operation and solving moment
equation gives variation in number average molecular
weight with time.







Where,
M
no
= Initial molecular weight
x
l
= limiting molecular weight
k = Degradation rate constant


0
1 1
ln ln
1 1
n l
l
n l
M x
Y kx t
M x
| |

|
= =
|
|

\ .
THEORETICAL MODEL
( ) *( ) l k x k x x =
RESULTS
Time evolution profile of M
n
for homo polymers
and copolymers.
Variation of ln(Y) with sonication time for homo- and copolymers.

RESULTS
BMA mol % in feed MA mol % in feed
Rate constant (k)
(mol gm
-1
min
-1
)
0 100 2.65
50 50 2.93
75 25 3.14
100 0 3.24
Variation in rate constant with the copolymer composition
RESULTS
All experiments were repeated thrice.
Standard deviation of the rate constant was less than 3%
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, different compositions of poly(n-butyl
methacrylate-co-methyl acrylate) were synthesized.
Degradation rate coefficient of these polymers were
determined from model equation and it follows the
order,
PBMA > PBMAMA-75 > PBMAMA-50 > PMA.
The reason for the above trend has to be
determined.
Mechanical and thermal properties of these
polymers have to be determined.




Thank You