Computer-simulation analysis of the ESR spectra of mechanoradicals in PMMA

In this study, initially, we tried to obtain the mechanoradicals of PMMA (poly(methyl methacrylate)). For this purpose, we designed a simple drilling apparatus. Using this apparatus, we prepared some PMMA samples at 77 K in vacuum. Later, by using an ESR (electron spin resonance spectrometer), we observed ESR signals for these samples at 77 K. This means that mechanoradicals have been successfully produced by mechanical fracture in PMMA using our drilling apparatus. Secondly, we tried to identify the radicals from these spectra through using theoretical analyses and, some computer simulations have been done by suggesting two different theoretical models for these ESR signals. Finally, by using experimental and theoretical data, we showed that our simple apparatus could be used to obtain mechanoradicals from polymers. Results were seen to be in very good agreement with the literature. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.