Influence of Adding Cyclodextrin Derivatives on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Glassy Polymers

The use of naturally derived materials for reinforcing and modifying polymer materials contributes to the development of sustainable polymer materials and reduces petroleum consumption. Cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives are promising naturally derived additives for reinforcing and modifying polymer materials. In this study, we investigated the influence of triacetylated γ-cyclodextrin (TAcγCD) addition and pseudorotaxane formation on the mechanical and thermal properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to elucidate the reinforcement mechanism. The incorporated TAcγCD primarily reinforced PMMA by acting as a rigid filler, with the reinforcement behavior following the Guth-Gold equation. Notably, pseudorotaxane formation slightly increased the Young's modulus compared to the value predicted by the equation, suggesting that pseudorotaxane formation may provide a modest additional contribution beyond conventional filler reinforcement. In addition, the glass transition temperature (T_g) was maintained upon the incorporation of TAcγCD, indicating that TAcγCD does not act as a plasticizer in PMMA. These findings indicate the potential of CD derivatives as naturally derived additives for reinforcing and modifying glassy polymers, thereby contributing to the development of polymer materials compatible with sustainable societies.