Photoactivated cationic ring-opening frontal polymerizations of oxetanes

Crivello J., Bulut U.

DESIGNED MONOMERS AND POLYMERS, vol.8, no.6, pp.517-531, 2005 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 8 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2005
  • Doi Number: 10.1163/156855505774597803
  • Journal Name: DESIGNED MONOMERS AND POLYMERS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.517-531
  • Keywords: photopolymerization, cationic polymerization, frontal polymerization, oxetane monomers, epoxide monomers, PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION
  • Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The photoinitiated cationic ring-opening polymerizations of 3,3-disubstituted oxetanes display a characteristic induction period followed by very rapid thermally accelerated polymerization. When a thin-film sample of such a monomer is irradiated for a time within the induction period and then allowed to stand at room temperature, no appreciable further conversion of monomer to polymer takes place. However, when heat is applied to a small portion of the films rapid polymerization takes place as a front, which propagates rapidly throughout the entire reaction mass. To characterize these frontal polymerizations, a new monitoring technique, employing optical pyrometry has been instituted. This method provides a simple, rapid means of following these polymerizations and quantitatively determining their frontal velocities.