Laser vibrational overtone activation of ethyl acrylate benzoyl peroxide mixture

Intra- and extracavity laser vibrational overtone polymerization of ethyl a crylate/benzoyl peroxide mixture has been demonstrated. Five photolysis wav enumbers on and near the fifth CI-I stretch overtone absorption of benzoyl peroxide was investigated. The polymer yield was monitored by observing the decrease in the intensity ratio of the olefinic/methyl and methylenic firs t CH stretch overtone absorptions of ethyl acrylate. The rate of the polyme rization did not depend on the photolysis wavenumber. Molecular weights of the overtone: initiated polymers were an order of magnitude larger than tho se obtained by thermal polymerization. The polymerization rate is compared to the intracavity laser vibrational overtone polymerization of methyl meth acrylate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.