Study of Commercial Additive Effects on the Poly(methyl methacrylate) Exposed to Gamma Irradiation by Viscosimetric Analysis

• Published in: Materials research (São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 26
• Main Authors: Aquino, Kátia Aparecida da Silva, Oliveira, Dandara Luz Souza de, Santos, Renata Francisca da Silva, Araújo, Elmo Silvano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: ABM, ABC, ABPol 01.01.2023; Associação Brasileira de Metalurgia e Materiais (ABM); Associação Brasileira de Cerâmica (ABC); Associação Brasileira de Polímeros (ABPol)
• Subjects: ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL; MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY; METALLURGY & METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING; PMMA; radiolitic stabilization; Tinuvin 622; Tinuvn 770; Tinuvin 622; radiolitic stabilization; Tinuvn 770; PMMA
• ISSN: 1516-1439; 1980-5373; 1980-5373
• DOI: 10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2023-0382

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a polymer with applications in the medical and aerospace industries that require resistance to gamma radiation. However, the effects caused by gamma radiation on PMMA properties may make its application in situations of exposure to gamma radiation unfeasible. In this study, the impact of commercial additives on the radiolytic stabilization of PMMA will be studied through viscosimetric assays. In a preliminary trial, additives with different mechanisms of action were tested, and the efficacy of two additives (Tinuvin 770 and Tinuvin 622) hindered amine stabilizers (HAS) types were registered. PMMA films with the additives at different concentrations were exposed to gamma radiation and studied through viscosimetric molar mass and G-value. The Tinuvin 622 at 0.3 wt% showed the best performance in the radiolytic stabilization of p PMMA films at the 20-50 kGy range. Antagonism was observed when Tinuvin 700 and Tinuvin 622 mixture was studied in different proportions. These results show the potential of commercial additives, initially produced for other purposes, in the radiolytic stabilization of PMMA.