Glass transition temperatures of poly(alkyl α-cyanoacrylates)

The glass transition temperatures of the poly(alkyl α-cyanocrylates) were determined by the dilatometric technique, and some of the values were checked by differential thermal analysis. The data indicate that the Tg's appear to decrease with increase in the size of the alkyl group, for a given molecular weight range. It was also found that the Tg of poly(methyl or butyl α-cyanoacrylate) increased with molecular weight. All cyanoacrylates, excepting methyl and ethyl esters, formed only low molecular weight polymers in aqueous surroundings. Therefore, they have characteristic low glass transition temperatures, causing coalescence at low temperatures.