Kinetics of acrylic films photopolymerization through analysis of the thermal curve

Kinetic curves of polymerization were obtained through a photocalorimetric device that allows thermal measurements on flat films of controlled thickne ss of oligomers based on bis-phenol-A-diglycidyl-ether diacrylate. The temp erature of the film was monitored during the ultraviolet irradiation under controlled conditions and the resulting thermal curve was processed by a su itable thermokinetic model based on the balance between the internal energy generation and the heat flow at the surfaces. The kinetic behavior of the acrylic group polymerization agrees with the kinetics followed by Fourier t ransform infrared analysis and fulfills the kinetic behavior expected for a photopolymerization process under steady state conditions. The proposed te chnique should be a suitable method to study in real time the reactivity of ultraviolet crosslinkable films in different condition of process. (C) 200 0 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.