Free radical-scavenging dyes as indicators of frontal polymerization dynamics

Abstract

A novel method of monitoring frontal polymerization propagation has been presented. Using commercially available dyes that change color upon coupling with free radicals, the propagating fronts of free radical polymerization reactions can be visualized and recorded using conventional digital imaging techniques. To demonstrate the utility of this method, we have applied it in the frontal polymerization reactions of trimethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TGDMA) and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), with Lupersol 231 [1,1-di(tert-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcylohexane] as the initiator.