1. Laboratory of Macromolecular Photochemistry and Engineering, University of Haute‐Alsace, Mulhouse Cedex, France;2. Laboratoire des Interactions Moléculaires et Réactivité, Chimique et Photochimique, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse Cedex 9, France;3. Engler‐Bunte‐Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany;4. M?der Research, MADER GROUP, Mulhouse, France
Abstract:
The continuous photopolymerization of acrylate and methacrylate monomer miniemulsions (25% solids content) is investigated at room temperature in a compact helix minireactor. Using n‐butyl acrylate, the process yields 95% conversion after only 27 s residence time, and gel‐free high‐molecular‐weight products. Under optimized conditions, a 25‐fold increase in efficiency is obtained when compared to a batch photopolymerization. The reaction set‐up offers a frugal process because of moderate irradiance (2.6 mW cm?2), photoinitiator concentration (0.75 wt%), and low‐power UV‐A fluorescent lamp.
