| Abstract: | Photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in bulk and in solution was studied using the combination benzil (BZL)/triethylamine (TEA) as photoinitiator. The initiation was found to occur through photoreduction of the ketone in presence of an amine via exciplex formation. A kinetic study of the polymerization showed that both carbonyl groups of benzil are involved in exciplex interaction, resulting in diradical formation. An analysis of the initiator dependent termination process revealed that primary radical termination is predominant in the particular system compared to the degradative initiator transfer. A kinetic scheme was designed to account for the various wastage reactions occurring in the polymerization system. |
