Toughening PMMA with fillers containing polymer brushes synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)

Publication date: 19 May 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 117
Author(s): Joshua M. Kubiak, Jiajun Yan, Joanna Pietrasik, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
Hybrid particle brushes and star polymers with a core-shell architecture were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and incorporated into bulk poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in order to improve the toughness and ductility of glassy, transparent PMMA. Mechanical and optical characterization demonstrated an improvement in both the strength and the toughness of the reinforced materials without significantly compromising the optical transparency.

Graphical abstract

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