Development of fluorescence probes based on stilbazolium salts for monitoring free radical polymerization processes

A series of 1-methyl-2-(4-aminostyryl)pyridinium perchlorates and iodides w ere investigated as fluorescent probes for the monitoring of the progress o f free radical polymerization. The study on the changes in the fluorescence intensity and spectroscopic shifts of studied compounds were carried out d uring thermally initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate and during photoinitiated polymerization of a 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-dio l triacrylate (TMPTA)-1-methylpyrrolidin-2-one (MP) mixture. The purpose of these studies was to find a relationship between the changes in the shape and intensity of probe fluorescence and degree of monomer conversion into p olymer. The polymer formation was estimated gravimetrically or by the measu rement of the degree of monomer double bond disappearance using FTIR spectr oscopy.