Photocrosslinkable polymer based on 4-(3-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-oxoprop-1-enyl) phenylacrylate: synthesis, reactivity ratio, and crosslinking studies

The acrylate monomer was synthesized by two step process. 2,4-dichloro-1-ene(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenone (DHP) was synthesized using 4-hydroxy benzaldehyde and 2,4-dichloro acetophenone. 4-[3-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl]phenylacrylate (DCP) was prepared by reacting DHP with acryloyl chloride. The synthesized monomer was copolymerized with 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and styrene using solution polymerization technique. Monomer and polymers were characterized by IR, NMR and UV techniques. The average molecular weight of the polymer was around 4000 g/mol. First and second decomposition temperature of the polymers was around 320 °C and 430 °C, respectively. The reactivity ratio of the polymers was calculated by Fineman-Ross, Kelen-Tudos and extended Kelen-Tudos methods. The synthesized monomer has been less reactive than the commercial monomer. The rate of photocrosslinking increased from 39 % to 99 % due to the using of copolymerization technique.