Thermoset-based materials for optical applications containing azobenzene choromophores

L.M. SAIZ; A. B. OROFINO; M.J. GALANTE; P.A. OYANGUREN

Micro and NanostructuresEpoxy/Rubber Blends

John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Año: 2012;

The photoinduced anisotropy and optical storage properties in several crosslinked epoxy and urethane-based azo polymers with different architectures and chromophore contents have been investigated. Push-pull azo chromophores: Disperse Orange 3, Disperse Red 19 and Disperse Red 13 were selected as photosensitive reactives. Measurements of the birefringence (Än) induced with linearly polarized 488 nm light show that the Än values increases with chromophore weight fraction. Networks with the same chromophore concentration but different backbones exhibit similar levels of induced anisotropy under the same irradiation conditions. The remnant birefringence and relaxation times are influenced by the molecular weight between crosslinks ( ) of networks. Crosslinked epoxy-based azopolymers containing different alkyl chains-containing compounds and constant chromophore concentration were also synthesized. Their reversible optical storage properties were studied and compared. It was found that the optical response is a direct consequence of the morphologies generated, and because crystallization of the alkyl chains can take place. In summary, playing with the chemical reactants, their stoichiometric ratio, and the presence of modifiers, networks with different structure and thermal properties can be synthesized. It was possible to develop promising materials with variable optical response, to be used in optical storage devices and others optical applications.