Mechanical properties and strain-rate effect of EVA/PMMA in situ polymerization blends

Transparent EVA/PMMA sheets are produced via in situ polymerization of MMA in this work. In the presence of the EVA-graft-PMMA (EVA-g-PMMA), which is synthesized by using tert-butyl peroctoate (t-BO) as initiator during MMA polymerization, EVA can be well dispersed in the PMMA matrix. Both tensile fracture energy and Izod impact strength of the EVA/PMMA blends are higher than those of the neat PMMA. SEM photos show that the grafted copolymer also prevents the dispersed EVA particles from being pulled out from the fracture surface. While the EVA/ PM MA blends are investigated at room temperature over the strain rates of four decades (from 1.6 x 10(-4) to 0.16 s(-1)). It has an obvious transition, whereas the neat PMMA remains brittle over the entire range of strain rates. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.