Photopolymerization of Product Blending Methyl Methacrylate with Reactive Mesogen RM257 using the UV Curing Method

Abstract

Photopolymerization of product blending methyl methacrylate with reactive mesogen RM257 using the UV Curing method with time variations. UV radiation formed a new polymer by adding the Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) initiator. Polymerization was carried out at a temperature of 120oC in time variations of 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 20 minutes. Polymers were characterized using FTIR, SEM, XRD, and LCR Meter. FTIR spectrum showed the absorption peak at 2950 cm-1 indicating–C-H3 bonds, 1721 cm-1 indicating C=O bonds, 1604 cm-1 indicating aromatic functional group, 1248 cm-1 indicating C-O-C bonds, 1144 and 1060 cm-1 indicates of C-O bonds. Morphology analysis by SEM shows that polymer has uniform textures and visible molecular shape of rods. Pattern peaks of XRD appeared at an angle range of 2θ 10o-90o, there was a broad peak at 2θ 10o-38o, the appearance of sharp peaks with moderate intensity at 2θ 13.90o and 16.83o, high intensity appeared at 2θ 44.66o. This pattern XRD indicates that the polymer of product blending is semicrystalline. An LCR meter’s measurement conductivities show that the highest conductivity value of a thin film is 2.245 x 10-6 S/cm.