Photocrosslinking of poly (tetra-hydrofurfuryl acrylate)

Abstract

It was tried to crosslink poly (tetra-hydrofurfuryl acrylate) by ultraviolet irradiation, adding cobalt naphthenate, calcium naphthenate or Michler's ketone as catalysts. High-pressure mercury lamp, UV carbon arc and chemical lamp were used for light sources and irradiation of the samples was carried out in the air in vacuo.
Weight losses of the irradiated samples immersed in acetone for 8 hr at room temperature were measured. Degrees of crosslinking of the samples were estimated from the weight losses and infra-red absorbtion spectra. Characteristic UV absorbtion wave length of the polymer was measured by spectrophotometer.
(1) High-pressure mercury lamp was most suitable to crosslink the polymer.
(2) Weight losses of the samples containing 1 % of cobalt naphthenate was considerably small.
(3) When the samples were irradiated in the air, degree of crosslinking was increased, because of opening the THE-ring as well as auto-oxidation.
(4) Characteristic UV absorbtion wave length of the polymer was among 240~270mμ.