The influence of aliphatic sulfides on the photoinduced polymerization of butanediol‐1,4 dimethacrylate

Abstract

The photoinduced polymerization of butanediol‐1,4 dimethacrylate was investigated in the presence of various linear sulfides and cyclic dithioacetals. Benzophenone was used as a sensitizer. It was found that the addition of small amounts of sulfides to the polymerization mixture causes, depending on the sulfide structure and concentration, reduction or full elimination of an induction period as well as an increase in the reaction rate and yield both in air and argon‐saturated systems. The explanation of the obtained results is based on the propensity of sulfides to act as hydrogen donors, chain‐transfer agents, and highly oxidizable compounds.