[Anakonda]

Hello,

from a couple of months I try to make solid surface from acrylic resin (methyl methacrylate) with filler - ATH (aluminium hydroxide). These sheets I use for production of countertops. My problem is that my sheets are too brittle - it breaks too easily. I used coupling agents but it didn't help me. I heard that the best way to improve it is to use a crosslinking agent. What do you think about it?
What do you think about DDDA 12-Dodecanedioic acid?
Could you help me?

[Enthalpy]

Could you find ATH as fibres instead of powder?
Replace PMMA with polycarbonate?
Copolymerize with an elastomer?

[Anakonda]

Could you find ATH as fibres instead of powder?
Replace PMMA with polycarbonate?
Copolymerize with an elastomer?

Thank you for your reply.
We use PMMA/ATH because all carpenters have machines to cut wood. They don't have to buy special tools/machines to cut, grind, polish it. They can use their own machines.
First of all you can bend acrylic but you can't make it with polycarbonate.

[Enthalpy]

I suppose you need the ATH, say for its fire retardant properties. But could you add an other constituent?, Say, short fibers of polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, glass?

Keeping the bendability isn't obvious, but it's quickly checked. Try small amounts of fibres. Polyethylene is harder to impregnate, the others look better. Stay away from aramides, they are too difficult to cut.

[tommac]

I use ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate as a crosslinker for my methylacrylate gel. I don't know what it would do to counter tops though.