Phase separation kinetics and morphology induced by photopolymerization of 2-hydroxyehyl methacrylate (HEMA) in poly(ethyl acrylate)/HEMA mixtures

Morphology and phase separation kinetics induced by polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in a HEMA/poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) mixture were observed by laser scanning confocal microscope in the presence of lucirin TPO used as an initiator. The results were analyzed by 2D-Fourier transform (2D-FFT). The photopolymerization is driven by irradiation with visible light lambda = 405 nm. The mixture exhibits the Trommsdorff-Norrish effect which is responsible for a drastic increase in the reaction rate during the irradiation process. The concentration fluctuations and the increase in the viscosity of the medium play an important role in promoting the reaction yield. PHEMA droplets were found to develop in the rhodamine-B-labeled poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA-Rh) continuous matrix. The characteristic length of the morphology increases with increasing irradiation intensity, revealing the tool to control the morphology by varying the light intensity.