| Abstract: | Laser-initiated polymerization of cyclohexene oxide in the presence of maleic anhydride was investigated. The influences of solvents laser irradiation time and the monomer feed ratio on the polymer yield and composition were evaluated. The rate of polymerization increased with an increase in the molar concentration of maleic anhydride in the monomer feed. Short irradiation times of 1–3 min duration gave very high yield of epoxy polymer (>80% conversion). Infrared spectral studies of the polymer product indicated the formation of polyether linkage at lower levels of conversion and an adduct of polyether and maleic anhydride at higher polymer conversions. The quantitative chemical analyses results also showed similar results. The results indicated that the polymerization was initiated by the excited charge transfer complex between the electron donor, cyclohexane oxide, and the electron acceptor–maleic anhydride. In the initial stages of polymerization, cyclohexene oxide undergoes a cationic polymerization in the presence of the radical anion of maleic anhydride. Laser-initiated polymerization of cyclohexene oxide/maleic anhydride is several hundred times more efficient than UV-initiated polymerization, as measured by the energy absorbed by the polymer system. |
