Copolymerization and photo stabilization of methylmethacrylate with 1,8-naphthalimide fluorescent brighteners

The copolymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) with 1,8-naphthahimide flu orescent brighteners (fluorophores) yielding transparent blue fluorescent s ide-group copolymers has been investigated. It has been found that more tha n 0.92% of the fluorophores are chemically bonded to the polymer chain. Cha nges occurring in the chromophoric systems of the fluorophores during copol ymerization have not been detected. The effect of polymer modification has been proved by an appropriate spectrophotometric method. The influence of t he studied monomeric 1,8-naphthalimide fluorescent brighteners upon the pho tostability of the structurally bleached polymethylmethacrylate, has been d etermined. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.