Comparison of the thermo- and photopolymerization methods for polymers fabrication useful in polymer optical fibers production

M. Gil, P. Mergo, W. Podkościelny, J. Klimek, K. Skorupski, J. Kopeć, A. Gorgol, J. Widomski - Laboratory of Optical Fibre Technology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland

The popular methods of obtaining polymer performs and polymer coatings are thermo- and photopolymerization. These techniques are well known, but obtaining optically good and clean preforms, from which optical fibers are drawn or extruded, is still a problem.
On the basis of the mechanism of initiation, polymerization reactions can be broadly divided into free radical and cationic systems. In most popular free radical systems, light or temperature sensitive initiator molecules present within a monomeric liquid react with quantum of energy to generate highly reactive free radical [1]. These radicals initiate the polymerization process, attacking reactive double bond groups in monomer molecule and converting them into a polymer. A comparison of the two above-mentioned techniques, namely thermo- and photopolymerization, will be presented. Next the research methods by which it is possible to study and modify the polymers forming the matrix, in which other substances can be suspend will be presented.

[1]. D. Dendukuri, P. Panda, R. Haghgooie, J.M. Kim, T.A. Hatton, P.S. Doyle, Modeling of oxygen-inhibited free radical photopolymerization in a PDMS microfluid device, Macromolecules, 41 (2008) 8547-8556.