Poly(n-Butyl Methacrylate) and Poly(Butyl Methacrylate-co-Acrylic Acid) Films

Abstract

The adhesion and wettability of thin films of poly(n-butyl methacrylate)(PBMA) and (butyl methacrylate/co-acrylic acid)(AA/BMA) cast from various solvents was studied. Most PBMA films showed adhesive failure regardless of the solvent from which they were cast. The AA/BMA films showed better adhesive properties when cast from the hydrogen-bonding solvents t-butanol and p-dioxane. Wetting by water of AA/BMA films indicated that in freshly contacted films, the wettability increased due to the exposure of the polar carboxyl groups, as the hydrogen-bonding capability of the solvent increased. Longer exposure time to water leveled the availability of hydrophilic groups at the film/air interface.