The effect of monomer structure on oxygen inhibition of (meth)acrylates photopolymerization

Oxygen inhibition during the free-radical photopolymerization of various monomers containing ether groups was investigated using photo-DSC and real-time FTIR (RTIR). Methacrylates and acrylates containing different number and types of ether groups were selected to determine the effects of ether group concentration and structure on oxygen inhibition. Also, the oxygen sensitivity of the free-radical polymerization of methacrylate and acrylate was compared. Compared to acrylates, methacrylates are much less sensitive to oxygen. Model poly(tetramethylene oxide) and poly(propylene glycol) system were evaluated to determine the effect of ether groups on polymerization kinetics in air. The polymerizations of the (meth)acrylates containing ether groups were found to be relatively insensitive to oxygen inhibition. The reduction of oxygen inhibition occurs by a series of chain transfer/oxygen scavenging reactions.