Thermal properties of fullerene (C60) containing poly(alkyl methacrylate)s

In this investigation, thermal properties of fullerene (C60) containing poly(alkyl methacrylate)s have been studied. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) and thermal stability of C60 containing poly(methyl methacrylate) (FMMA) and poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (FBMA) were more than that of the corresponding virgin polymers and the values increased with the increasing fullerene content in such polymers. Chemically linked bulky fullerene imparts chain rigidity and hence restricts segmental motion causing higher Tg values for C60 containing polymers than that of the polymers without fullerene. Thermal degradation of C60 containing poly(alkyl methacrylate)s is hindered prominently due to the presence of fullerene which scavenges the macroradicals formed during polymer degradation. The mechanism of thermal degradation of C60 containing poly(alkyl methacrylate)s is, therefore, associated mainly with three types of reactions: (a) end chain scission, (b) random chain scission and (c) reaction of fullerene (C60) with macroradicals obtained in thermal degradation process.