Toward an enhanced understanding and implementation of photopolymerization reactions

Abstract Photopolymerization reactions proceed rapidly at ambient conditions and are able to exhibit both temporal and spatial control, nevertheless their full potential has been limited by a lack of understanding of the polymerization kinetics and polymer network evolution as well as a lack of custom, functional monomers, and polymerization mechanisms. For the last 15 years, our group has sought to address these limitations by reaction engineering at both the fundamental and applied levels with a focus on increasing the understanding, potential, and implementation of photopolymerization reactions. In particular, we have modeled and experimentally validated the complex spatially dependent polymerization kinetics and network heterogeneity, and we have implemented these systems for applications improvement or development in lithography, microdevice fabrication, biomaterials, biodetection, dental materials, and surface coatings. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008