Polymerisation kinetics photoinduced by derivatives of 4-nitroaniline in the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline studied by Real-Time IR spectroscopy

The behaviour of nitro-aromatic amines 4-nitro-1-naphthylamine (NNA), N-ace thyl-4-nitro-1-naphthylamine and N,N-dimethyl-4-nitroaniline, in the presen ce of a tertiary amine such as N,N-dimethylaniline as photoinitiators of th e dodecyl acrylate polymerisation has been studied by Real-Time IR spectros copy upon UV exposure and the results compared with those obtained with 4-n itroaniline (pNA). The rate and quantum yield of polymerisation as well as the residual unsaturation in the cured polymer result are strongly dependen t on the photoinitiator nature. The formulation based on the NNA compound i mproves the polymerisation activity of pNA exhibiting a reaction rate up to 2.1 M s(-1) and reaching a conversion of nearly 85%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.