Surface Energy and Thermal Stability Studies of Poly(dimethyl siloxane)–Poly(alkyl(meth)acrylate) Copolymers

ABSTRACT

The correlation between the surface energy and thermal stability of polymers plays an important role in engineering of plastic materials. In this work, microstructural characteristics of copolymers of poly(dimethyl siloxane) with benzyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and methyl acrylate are correlated with their surface energy and thermal stability. The poly(dimethyl siloxane) segments in the copolymer chains affected the hydrophobic behavior. The surface energy of the synthesized copolymers decreased by increasing segments of alkyl methacrylates. The thermal stability of copolymers suggesting that heat resistance of poly(dimethyl siloxane) copolymers used in this correlation can be improved by adjusting the units of alkyl methacrylates in copolymers.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Alkyl (meth)acrylate
• ATRP
• heat stability
• PDMS
• surface energy