Development of organic glass using Interpenetrating Polymer Networks with enhanced resistance towards scratches and solvents

• Materials combining PMMA and PCR39 have been synthesized without exogenous solvent.
• Transparent glasses with transmission higher than 95% were obtained.
• The presence of PCR39® increases the scratch resistance of PMMA based materials.
• The presence of PCR39® improves the solvent resistance of the PMMA based materials.

Acrylate polymers are one of common organic glass family. However their sensitivity to abrasion is an important drawback. Various alternatives were considered but they are often expensive. In this work, we show that the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) glass resistance can be improved by performing materials based on Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) at low cost. A series of transparent IPNs based on an aliphatic polycarbonate and PMMA was synthesized through in situ polymerization process. The formation of two networks in the IPNs was studied by FTIR spectroscopy. Effects of PMMA cross-linking and partner proportions in the IPNs were investigated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Optical properties, solvent and scratch resistances have been also studied.

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