Synthesis and Characterization of Methacrylate-Based Copolymers for Integrated Optical Applications

Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate/2-methacryloylethyl methacrylate)-based copolymers of varying composition have been synthesized and characterized. Free-radical polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate over a range of monomer feed ratios gives an ideal random copolymer series which has been functionalized by further methacryloylation of the pendant hydroxyl group. The resulting polymers have been cross-linked both thermally and by UV exposure, as evidenced by infrared and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. After thermal cross-linking the polymers remain stable up to 200 °C. Variation of polymer composition has allowed the refractive index to be tuned between 1.497 and 1.518, a range suitable for waveguide applications, and channel waveguides have been fabricated by UV writing. The propagation loss of these channel waveguides is less than 1 dB/cm at a range of near-IR wavelengths.

Optically transparent nanocomposites reinforced with modified biocellulose nanofibers

“…The swelling property of this polymer depends on temperature, pH, and solution's ionic strength 1–3. PHEMA has also been tested for various pharmaceutical applications by Karlson and Gatenholm,10 Seidel and Malmonge,11 Koo et al,12 and Tsou et al13…”

Using the photoinduced reversible refractive-index change of an azobenzene co-polymer to reconfigure an optical Bragg grating

“…Methyl methacrylate derived co-polymers, such as poly(methyl methacrylate/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), P(MMA)(HEMA), have suitable refractive-indices for use in waveguide systems (refractive-index of P(MMA)(HEMA) ¼ 1.497-1.516, depending on the MMA : HEMA composition 13 ), while the pendant hydroxyl groups in the latter component allow further functionalisation. The present work describes the radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate to form a 51 : 49 P(MMA)(HEMA), 5, co-polymer, into which 4.8% para-methoxy azobenzene molecular units, 4, were incorporated along the polymer backbone, 6 (Scheme 2).…”

“…The resulting MMA/HEMA ratio was determined by comparison of the integrals of the peaks in the 1 H NMR spectrum. 13 This technique was further applied to calculate the molar ratio of azobenzene units present along the polymer backbone as a ratio of functionalised monomer units present.…”

Controlled Polymerization by Incarceration of Monomers in Nanochannels

“…For example, linear polymers bearing pendant vinyl groups in the backbones are attractive from the viewpoints of potential reactivity of the olefinic double bonds and application as polymer precursors [78,79] . Usually, radical polymerization of DVBs in bulk or solutions results in the formation of hyper-branched network polymers, because the reactivity of the two vinyl moieties in DVBs is equivalent.…”