Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: martainthebox on November 07, 2009, 08:11:20 AM
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Hi,
I did this experiment a while ago as my work experience where I embedded bones into plastic so that bones could be analysed and can't remember why certain things happened so was wondering if anyone knows?
so...
I polymerised methyl methacrylate with benzoyl peroxide as an initiator for radical polymerisation. I also added dibutyl phthalate as a plastisicer which should have made the plastic flexible. However my plastic then set over a couple of days and became hard and I was wondering how the plastic could become hard if I added a plasticiser?
Thanks
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How much plasticizer did you add?
I'm not familiar with methyl methacrylate. With PVC, it is not uncommon to add up to 40%, by weight, of plasticizer. Smaller amounts, say 20%, can leave a plastic stiff.