FLUORESCENCE TECHNIQUE FOR STUDYING THE SOL-GEL TRANSITION IN THE FREE-RADICAL CROSS-LINKING COPOLYMERIZATION OF METHYL-METHACRYLATE AND ETHYLENE-GLYCOL DIMETHACRYLATE

The steady-state fluorescence technique was used to study the free-radical crosslinking copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in the absence and presence of toluene at 75 degrees C. A sol-gel phase transition was observed and monitored by an excited aromatic molecule during the gelation of the above system. Bond percolation theory was employed to quantify the results. The critical exponent and gel point were found to be around 0.45 and 0.36 both in bulk and solution polymerization.