SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL POLYMERS CONTAINING PENDANT PHOTOCROSSLINKABLE CHALCONE MOIETY

Acrylate and methacrylate monomers containing the photodimerizable alp ha, beta-unsaturated ketone moiety were prepared and polymerized in me thyl ethyl ketone using benzoyl peroxide as initiator at 70 degrees C. The polymers were characterized by UV, IR, H-1-NMR and C-13-NMR spect ra. The molecular weights <(M)over bar (w)> and <(M)over bar (n)> of t he polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The ther mal stability of the polymers was measured by thermogravimetric analys is in air and nitrogen. Glass transition temperatures of the polymers were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The photoreactiv ities of the polymers were investigated as thin films and in solution. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.