Mechanochemical copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate initiated by grinding quartz in an organic solvent

Mechanochemical polymerization reactions depend on grinding to generate active centres such as radicals. Although organic-inorganic composites have been prepared by this method, the only organic solvent they have been synthesized in is n-heptane. In this study, we performed mechanochemical copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in various organic solvents by using quartz powder. The effect of the solvent and grinding conditions on the polymer yield was investigated. A vibration ball mill was used for grinding operation. The obtained samples were analyzed by TG-DTA, FT-IR, Single Point BET and 1H-NMR. The results confirmed that the mechanochemical copolymerization of styrene and PMMA was caused by grinding quartz in organic solvents. A composite, consisting of the fine quartz surface coated with the polystyrene-PMMA copolymer, was obtained. The reaction mechanism was cationic polymerization.