Preparation and characterization of a high molecular weight UV-stabilizer based on a derivative of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone and its application in polymer materials

In this study, a polymerizable UV-stabilizer, 2-hydroxy-4-(3-methacryloxy-2-hydroxylpropoxy)benzophenone (BPMA), was synthesized using 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (UV-0) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). It was copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) to prepare poly(MMA-co-BPMA) by emulsion polymerization. The composition and characteristics of poly(MMA-co-BPMA) were determined by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1-NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis). Further, the obtained poly(MMA-co-BPMA) was used as a high molecular weight UV-stabilizer and was blended with PVC to prepare PVC/poly(MMA-co-BPMA) films. These films were presented under UV light, using PVC film as standard substance. Insoluble substance, GPC, and color difference were used to characterize UV degradation. The results show that poly(MMA-co-BPMA) is an effective high molecular weight UV-stabilizer. To detect the migration of poly(MMA-co-BPMA), water extraction and heat migration test were used to accelerate the movement of poly(MMA-co-BPMA). As a reference, these tests were also carried out on PVC/UV-0 film. The results show that poly(MMA-co-BPMA) has very small migration, while nearly 80% UV-0 migrated out from the plastic matrix after the experiments. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.