| Summary: | In this study, a novel series of solid PMMA containing deep eutectic solvent (DES) (PMMADES) (M-w = similar to 28,374 g mol(-1)) was successfully synthesized via free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in different types of DES (e.g., choline chloride (ChCl): 1,2-butanediol (1,2-BD)-DESI, ChCl: 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BD)-DESII, and ChCl: 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD)-DESIII) in order to overcome the brittleness of commercial PMMA film. Interestingly, flexible PMMADES films with a reduced glass transition temperature (T-g) from 73.36 degrees C (PMMA) to 55.38 degrees C were obtained. This is due to the ability of DES to act as a plasticizer by forming interactions with PMMA, as confirmed by FTIR analysis. In addition, the incorporated DES also results in a reduction in the number of crystalline grains, as observed from their optical micrographs. This is due to the increment in amorphous content, as proven by XRD analysis, which shows a reduction in crystallite size from 1.20 nm (PMMA) to 1.12 nm upon the addition of DES. Also, this study found that the PMMADES(I) system, which involved the incorporation of ChCl: 1,2-BD (DESI), exhibited the highest ionic conductivity (similar to 10(-8) S cm(-1)) and lowest value of T-g (55.38 degrees C). This was due to the closest position of the hydroxyl group in 1,2-BD, which contributes to the greater disorderliness and wider ion distribution of the PMMA matrix.
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