Iridescence of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/aromatic allyl ester reaction mixtures

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Reaction of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and diallyl phthalate or vinyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate has been found to give an iridescent reaction mixture. Transmittance spectra of the reaction mixture depended on the temperature in the range of 0 to 60°C. The temperature-transmittance curves showed a discrete stepwise change near the room temperature. Polymerization reaction of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) in a nonreactive monomer substitute, dipropyl phthalate, showed a temperature dependence as was seen for the iridescent reaction mixture, but was not iridescent. PHEMA suspension in several aromatic solvents also showed iridescence, and some of them were temperature dependent. The mechanism of temperature-dependent iridescence of the copolymerization reaction mixtures is discussed.

Dual‐Tunable Structural Colors from Liquid‐Infused Aerogels

“…On the other hand, structural colors can originate due to the light scattering by amorphous scatterers whose angle‐independency is favored for various applications 15. This type of structural color has been found from several two‐phase systems that can be constructed by either the phase separation of polymer gels16 or the dispersed microparticles 17,18. Materials with disordered microstructures can even display super white19 or super black colors20 by scattering or absorbing light in all wavelengths.…”