POLYMERIZATION OF ORIENTED MONOLAYERS OF OCTADECYL ACRYLATE - 1 - CHARACTERIZATION OF THE REACTION-PRODUCTS

Octadecyl acrylate monolayers were polymerized at the nitrogen-water i nterface. The reaction was initiated by UV radiation and followed by m easurement of surface potentials, relative surface viscosities and inf rared spectra. Product behavior suggested a high molecular weight and cross-linked polymer. There were some indications that the interfacial ly polymerized material was stereoregular. The reaction was complicate d by UV induced degradation of poly(octadecyl acrylate) monolayers to a product which showed many of the characteristics of poly(acrylic aci d). (C) 1998 Academic Press.