| Abstract: | The reaction kinetics in the dark of photopolymerized mono- and dimethacrylates in a polymeric binder has been studied. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) provided useful information regarding the nature of the radicals involved in postpolymerization reactions. Computer simulations were performed to study the decay of the propagating radicals by considering normal bimolecular termination and transfer reactions of the radicals to the binder. Differences were found in the termination reactions for mono- and difunctional monomers when they were photopolymerized in a solid medium. Absolute kinetic constants for H-transfer reaction with the binder, relative kinetic rate constants for radical–radical coupling, and average lifetimes for the radicals have been calculated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2785–2791, 1998 |
