Dynamic mechanical properties of multiphase acrylic systems.

The influence of type and quantity of five different dimethacrylate crosslinking agents on the dynamic mechanical properties of multiphase acrylic systems has been studied. These materials, commonly used in bioengineering, were processed by polymerization of a mixture of liquid methacrylate monomers, and poly(methyl methacrylate) powder. The specimens were made with various ratios of methyl methacrylate and dimethacrylate crosslinking agents in the monomer liquid. Two different processing conditions were used, heat-polymerization at 100 degrees C and autopolymerization at 45 degrees C. By using a forced torsional vibration apparatus the storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G"), and dissipation factor (tan delta) were determined over the temperature range -60 degrees C to 140 degrees C at frequencies of 0.1, 1.0, 10, and 100 rad/s. In the autopolymerized materials, the glass transition temperature (Tg), as determined via tan delta data, increased with increasing quantities of crosslinking agents. The storage modulus likewise increased. In the heat-polymerized materials only minor variations in modulus and tan delta with type and quantity of crosslinking agents were observed. Tg values of the heat-polymerized materials were, in all cases, greater than those of the autopolymerized materials.