Raman study of the polymerization processes in trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TMSPM)

The evolution of the Raman spectrum of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacryla te (TMSPM) during polymerization processes which take place in different ch emical reactions is reported. TMSPM is a monomer which has both a methoxide function and a carbon-carbon double bond and is of great interest as precu rsor to obtain organic-inorganic hybrid glasses hosting chromophores or opt ically active molecules for a large variety of photonic applications. By ch anging the reaction conditions, the hydrolysis of TMSPM is achieved by mean s of polar solvents, or an organic polymerization by using a radical starte r: according to the process, the optical, mechanical and chemical propertie s of the final product show large variations which can be tailored for spec ific uses. These reactions were monitored through micro-Raman spectroscopy and a correlation between the vibrational spectra and the degree of organic and inorganic polymerization was obtained. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.