1D Hypo-Crystals of Stereo-Irregular PMMA via Spray-Induced Rapid Solidification of Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Synergistic solubility enhancement of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in ethanol/water mixtures is observed in the presence of benzoic acid (BA). SAXS and 2D correlation Raman experiments show that PMMA chains strongly interact with BA molecules in PMMA/BA/ethanol/water quaternary solutions via hydrogen bonding and dispersion interactions, which leads to the spontaneous extension of PMMA chains. Stereo-irregular alpha-PMMAs are crystallized by spray-induced rapid solidification process of PMMA/BA/ethanol/water solutions. The resulting films consisting of microfibrils present clear melting transitions at similar to 290 degrees C in DSC thermograms and in-plane diffraction patterns in grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction.