Epoxy-based azopolymers with enhanced photoresponsive properties obtained by cationic homopolymerization

ROMINA OLLIER; MARIANELA VICTOREL; GUSTAVO ARENAS; PATRICIA A. OYANGUREN; MARÍA J GALANTE; WALTER SCHROEDER

MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING (PRINT)

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

Año: 2018 vol. 302 p. 1700311 - 1700319

1438-7492

Azopolymers are highly versatile materials due to their unique photoresponsive properties. In this contribution, a novel azo-modified epoxy network was synthesized by cationic homopolymerization with boron trifluoride monoethylamine (BF3.MEA) complex as initiator. The effect of the addition of a fixed content of amino-functionalyzed azo chromophore, Disperse Orange 3, into the polymer matrix was studied in detail. First of all, the thermal curing cycle was optimized by means of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements. Then, the resulting bulk azo-modified epoxy networks were characterized by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR, DSC, UV?visible spectroscopy and rheological measurements. Finally, the optical response of thin films of these materials was determined. The results evidenced that azo-modified epoxy networks obtained by cationic polymerization with optimized curing cycle display high Tg values, high maximum photoinduced birefringence, fast writing speed and exceptionally high remnant anisotropy. Therefore, this material is a promising candidate to be used for optical storage applications.