MOLDED MACROPOROUS POLY(GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE-CO-TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIMETHACRYLATE) MATERIALS WITH FINE CONTROLLED POROUS PROPERTIES - PREPARATION OF MONOLITHS USING PHOTOINITIATED POLYMERIZATION

A model system has been developed for in situ photopolymerization of g lycidyl methacrylate and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, leading t o macroporous monolithic sorbents. This model system allows the prepar ation of continuous porous objects intended for applications such as d etection, separation, and catalysis. The ease of the preparation, the short time needed for reaction, and the possibility of running the rea ction at a low temperature are some of the main advantages of the phot oinitiated in situ polymerization compared to a thermally initiated po lymerization. Important system variables acting upon the porous proper ties and flow characteristics of the monoliths have been investigated in an experimental 2(3) full factorial design. The porous properties o f the monoliths are a direct consequence of the quality of the porogen ic solvent, as well as the percentage of cross-linking monomer and the ratio between the monomer and porogen phases. The presence of interac tive effects between these reaction conditions were verified using mul tivariate analysis. It was concluded that the pore formation mechanism in an in situ photopolymerization follows rules similar to those foun d earlier for thermally initiated in situ polymerization of ly(glycidy lmethacrylate-co-ethylenedimethacrylate) and poly(styrene-co-divinylbe nzene).