| Abstract: | The laser-initiated polymerization of charge-transfer monomer complexes was investigated with a pulsed nitrogen laser and an argon laser. Several donor-acceptor monomer charge-transfer systems were screened for polymerization in different solvents. Polymerization by laser initiation was achieved in two of these systems; that is, 2-vinylnaphthalene/fumaronitrile and 9-vinylanthracene/fumaronitrile. The best polymer yields were obtained with the 2-vinylnaphthalene/fumaronitrile system in sulfolane solvent. The influences on the polymer yield and composition of solvents, varying focal path length, glass conditioning, initiation sources, environment, and monomer feed ratios were evaluated. Infrared (IR) spectral studies, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and chemical analyses were performed to characterize the polymer products arising from the polymerization of 2-vinylnaphthalene/fumaronitrile in sulfolane. The polymer contained a high percentage of sulfolane (ca. 1/3 mol fraction), presumably arising from solvent transfer to the growing polymer chains during the propagation phase of the polymerization. |
