Synthesis of high molecular weight poly(methyl methacrylate) Microspheres by suspension polymerization in the presence of silver nanoparticles

To prepare high molecular weight (HMW) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/ silver microspheres, methyl methacrylate was suspension-polymerized in the presence of silver nanoparticles using a low-temperature initiator at different conditions. The rate of conversion was increased with increasing initiator concentration. In the case of adding silver nanoparticles, the rate of polymerization decreased slightly. High monomer conversion (about 95%) was obtained in spite of low polymerization temperature of 30 °C. Under controlled conditions, PMMA/silver microspheres with various viscosity-average degree of polymerization (6,000-37,000) were prepared.