Photochromism of Spirooxazine Doped or Bonded in Polymer Matrices

Abstract

This study explores the thermal decoloration of a novel 1-[4′-(2”-methacryloxy)ethoxycarbonyl]benzyl-3,3-dimethyl-spiro[indoline-2,3′-[3H]-naphtho[2,1-b]-1,4-oxazine] (spirooxazine III), a photochromic colorant attached to a double bond either doped or bonded in PMMA matrices. Results indicate that the thermal decoloration rate decreases rapidly with an increasing concentration of spirooxazine in the doped system due to the availability of free volume within the polymer matrices. The thermal decoloration rate remains almost constant in the bonded system with an increasing concentration of spirooxazine III.