Two-Step LED Photopolymerization for Synthesizing a Blend of Block Copolymers and Homopolymers Using Two Distinct Wavelengths

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We propose a method for obtaining a blend of A-B diblock copolymers, A-homopolymers, and B-homopolymers via radical photopolymerization. In this study, methyl acrylate, n -butyl acrylate, and bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide were employed as the A-monomer, the B-monomer, and the photoinitiator, respectively. Initially, a solution containing methyl acrylate and bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide was irradiated using LED light sources emitting at 425 nm. The resulting polymers were identified as poly(methyl acrylate) with either a 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl group or a 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl phosphinoyl group as the initiating site. Subsequently, a solution containing the purified poly(methyl acrylate) and n -butyl acrylate was irradiated using LED light sources emitting at 385 nm. The resultant products were found to be a mixture of poly(methyl acrylate), poly(methyl acrylate- block - n -butyl acrylate), and poly( n -butyl acrylate). This study successfully demonstrates a straightforward method to obtain a blend of A-B diblock copolymers, A-homopolymers, and B-homopolymers from radically polymerizable monomers.