merged

Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate (Mma) and Hydroxypropyl
Methyl Cellulose (Hpmc) via Emulsion Polymerization Technique
Liew Pei Chen
Supervisor: Dr Noor Aniza Binti Harun
Bachelor of Science (Chemical Sciences)
School of Fundamental Science
Copolymerization between methyl methacrylate (MMA) and hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose (HPMC) to produce poly(methyl methacrylate-co-hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose) P(MMA-co-HPMC) nanoparticles were successfully prepared via
emulsion polymerization technique. The effects of different molar ratios of MMA and
HPMC monomers towards the copolymer formation, morphology, thermal stability and
solubility have been discussed. Homopolymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate)
(PMMA) and poly(hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose) (PHPMC) were also carried out as
control via emulsion polymerization. Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and potassium
persulfate (KPS) were used as anionic surfactant and water soluble initiator,
respectively, throughout the emulsion polymerization. The formation of copolymer
P(MMA-co-HPMC) and homopolymers of PMMA and PHPMC nanoparticles were
confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphology of
copolymer and homopolymer nanoparticles were determined using Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM) The decomposition rate of homopolymer and copolymer
nanoparticles were determined using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) technique
whereas the hydrophilicity of homopolymer and copolymer nanoparticles were
determined by simple solubility test.
416 | U M T U N D E R G R A D U A T E R E S E A R C H D A Y 2018