Monomer composition effects on thermal properties of transparent poly(methyl methacrylate-co-isobornyl methacrylate-co-cyclohexyl maleimide) terpolymers

[Display omitted] •Terpolymers based on methyl methacrylate (MMA), isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA) and N-cyclohexyl maleimide (ChMI) were copolymerized.•They showed improved heat resistance characteristics without sacrificing a high transparency of pure PMMA.•Their chemical structure should affect to improve their dynamic mechanical properties as well as dimension stabilities. Terpolymers based on methyl methacrylate (MMA), isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA) and N-cyclohexyl maleimide (ChMI) were synthesized by conventional free-radical solution copolymerization. The mole fraction of all polymers was characterized by elemental analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The thermal and thermomechanical properties of all polymer series having different comonomer compositions were investigated by DSC, TGA, DMTA and TMA. The results showed improved heat resistance characteristics, in which both the glass transition and decomposition temperatures of the terpolymers were heightened with increasing IBOMA and ChMI comonomer content, due to their bulky pendent group and rigid imide ring structure. Furthermore, the dynamic mechanical properties as well as dimensional stability of the terpolymers increased with a higher IBOMA and ChMI content without sacrificing a high transparency of pure PMMA.