Photooxidative degradation of poly(alkyl methacrylate)s

Photooxidative degradation of four different poly(alkyl methacrylate)s: poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(ethyl methacrylate), poly(n-butyl methacrylate) and poly(n-hexyl methacrylate) have been investigated using FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. The influence of the ester group size on the course of photochemical reactions in poly(alkyl methacrylayte)s has been estimated. It has been found that PMMA undergoes slower photooxidation but faster photodegradation than those in higher poly(alkyl methacrylate)s. The different behavior of the polymers studied is caused by the different reactivity of the macroradicals influenced by the different flexibility and mobility of macrochains at room temperature.