A new approach to the preparation of colorless and high transparent methacr
ylic resins was described. N-Alkyl methacrylamide, the alkyl substituent of
which was methyl, cyclohexyl, or isobornyl, was employed to copolymerize w
ith methyl methacrylate, giving the copolymer with enhanced glass transitio
n temperature around 10-15 degreesC higher than that of homo-poly(methyl me
thacrylate). The comonomers, N-cyclohexyl methacrylamide and N-isobornyl me
thacrylamide, were prepared by reaction of methacrylonitrile with cyclohexe
ne and camphene, respectively. All the three kinds of copolymers showed the
water absorption similar to that of homo-poly(methyl methacrylate) after t
he samples were immersed in water for 2-8 days. The copolymers also showed
high weather resistance toward sunshine in atmosphere for 16 months. (C) 20
01 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.