Permanent antimicrobial polymethyl methacrylate prepared by chemical bonding with poly(hexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride).

The alkyl‐terminated poly(hexamethyleneguanidine hydrochloride) (PHMG‐L), which is antibacterial by physical membrane rupture, was selected as the functional gene, a nonleaching antimicrobial polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was developed by the melting grafting reaction between the random copolymer P (MMA‐co‐MAH) containing 5.0 wt% maleic anhydride (MAH) and the PHMG‐L. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectra, energy spectrometer, atomic force microscope, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analyzer, UV–visible spectrophotometer confirmed that P(MMA‐g‐PHMG) had been successfully prepared, and the grafting efficiency was at 67.1%–70.7% while 1.0–3.0 wt% PHMG‐L was added. Furthermore, P(MMA‐g‐PHMG) was compatible with PMMA, and partially enriched on the surface of the mixture. The inhibition rates of antimicrobial PMMA with 3.0 wt% PHMG‐L against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reached 99.9%, and the nonleaching characteristic ensured the safety and long‐term antimicrobial property. The antimicrobial PMMA also possessed excellent heat resistance and transparency. This study provides a green and promising approach for the industrial fabrication of antimicrobial PMMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]