Mechanical Performance of Structural Polymethyl Methacrylate Joints at Different Temperatures

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Structural Engineering

Background:

• Acrylic glass (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) is widely used in architectural applications.
• Ensuring joint integrity under thermal cycling is crucial for structural safety.
• Existing methods for enhancing PMMA joint strength have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel bulk polymerization technique for enhancing the joint strength of structural acrylic glass (PMMA).
• To assess the mechanical performance of PMMA joints subjected to thermal cycling.
• To develop a constitutive model for predicting PMMA joint strength under varying temperatures.

Main Methods:

• Bulk polymerization was employed to reinforce PMMA joints.
• Tensile tests were conducted on PMMA joints at temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 140 °C.
• A constitutive model was developed to correlate joint strength with temperature variations.

Main Results:

• The bulk polymerization technique significantly enhanced the strength of PMMA joints.
• Joint material strength reached up to 90% of the base PMMA material's strength.
• Post-thermal cycling tests indicated no significant impact on joint strength and modulus.

Conclusions:

• The novel bulk polymerization method effectively enhances PMMA joint strength under thermal cycling.
• The developed technique expands the application potential of acrylic glass in architectural structures.
• This research provides a theoretical foundation for improving construction practices involving acrylic glass.