Abstract

A real-time FT-IR (RT/FT-IR) technique has been used to perform direct kinetic measurements of vinyl polymerization on metal and silicon surfaces. Here, we are reporting our results in studies of anaerobic and photo-induced anionic polymerizations of monomers containing vinyl functional groups (>C=C<) for adhesive and coating applications. For anaerobic polymerization we are investigating the hydroperoxide-initiated free radical polymerization of model multifunctional methacrylate monomer systems. We will report the results of our studies on the catalytic effects of different dithiolate complexes and related accelerators. In photo-induced anionic polymerization we will report our studies for ethyl cyanoacrylate (CA) polymerization initiated by a controlled release of anion from a stable chromium complex precursor (<i>trans</i>-Cr-(NH₃)₂(NCS)₄⁻K⁺). Because of high surface sensitivity of the CA monomer, the polymerization kinetic studies were performed on a clean silicon surface at room temperature. The effect of the initiator concentration and irradiation wavelengths on polymerization kinetic rate will be discussed. The acrylic polymerization was monitored with the use of the C=C stretching band at 1634 and 1627 cm⁻¹ for polyglycol dimethacrylate and cyanoacrylate, respectively. Both the degree of polymerization and the intrinsic rates of the polymerization reactions were calculated for kinetic comparisons. For anaerobic polymerization studies, GC/FT-IR software was used which provided a real-time screen display of IR spectral changes as the reaction proceeded. For very fast cyanoacrylate anionic polymerization studies, new FT-IR kinetic software was used to collect 204 spectra per minute with one spectrum per scan. In this case, the interferograms were collected first; post-Fourier transform conversion and spectral script reduction were then performed. Some detailed experimental techniques and polymerization reaction mechanisms will also be discussed.

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