Thermal Depolymerization of Polymethyl Methacrylate and Poly-α-methylstyrene in Solution in Various Solvents^1,2

Depolymerization of P(PDMS11MA) Bottlebrushes via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization with Activator Regeneration

“…Polymers with aliphatic backbones have high chemical and thermal stability. Depolymerization of poly­(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is of high interest due to its broad industrial applications and relatively low T c (bulk) = 296 °C and T c ( c °) = 205 °C. − Thermal depolymerization of PMMA can be induced by bond scission of weaker bonds (head–head bonds or unsaturated chain ends) at lower temperature or by random bond scission and unzipping at higher temperature. ,− Inhibitors or a loss of chain-end functionalities (CEFs) due to termination can prevent depolymerization of methacrylates by radical mechanisms under mild conditions. − Dilute depolymerizations of PMMA were induced by bond scission of weak links at 236 °C at 1 w/v% concentration. These depolymerizations recovered ∼10–35% of the monomer and stopped once the chain end was terminated by transfer to the solvent. , Thermolysis of PMMA at higher temperature could recover a larger monomer fraction but may degrade high-value PMMA into soot and other impurities. , Advances in pyrolysis technology enabled >97% MMA monomer recovery at T > 350 °C. , A compromise between energy efficiency and selectivity may plausibly be reached by mediating the depolymerization by a living process closer to the T c .…”

“…These depolymerizations recovered ∼10−35% of the monomer and stopped once the chain end was terminated by transfer to the solvent. 33,34 Thermolysis of PMMA at higher temperature could recover a larger monomer fraction but may degrade high-value PMMA into soot and other impurities. 23,36 Advances in pyrolysis technology enabled >97% MMA monomer recovery at T > 350 °C.…”

Polymer strategies in perovskite solar cells

“…(a)] . The films formed from PS:TiO isopropoxide in similar conditions were not porous, so the mechanism of the pore formation is attributed solely to PMMA thermal depolymerization, as suggested by Bywater …”

“…103 The films formed from PS:TiO isopropoxide in similar conditions were not porous, so the mechanism of the pore formation is attributed solely to PMMA thermal depolymerization, as suggested by Bywater. 104 One of the major advantages of templating polymers is their low loadings, needed to achieve the maximum effect (1-2% is generally sufficient). Furthermore, the templating helps to decrease the deposition and annealing temperatures, while delivering perovskite films of high crystallinity, which in combination with low costs of the templating polymers explains their attractiveness for PSC industry.…”

Morphology Analysis and Optimization: Crucial Factor Determining the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells

“…The high polarity of PMMA improved the miscibility with titanium reagents, inducing the meso-sized phase separation. The prompt occurrence of depolymerization in the PMMA domains may also contribute to the nondestructive formation of the mesopores [ 129 ]. Therefore, PVSK solar cells prepared by such method exhibiting a PCE max beyond 14%, which is about three times higher than that using a TiO 2 layer prepared by the same sol-gel method without the polymer addition.…”