Design of Light-Scattering Polymers from Mono- and Di(meth)acrylates: Relationship between the Monomer Solubility Parameter and Optical and Strength Properties of the Material

The spectral characteristics of polymers obtained by photopolymerization of compositions from the crosslinkable monomer dimethacrylate OCM-2 and a number of mono(meth)acrylates (50 : 50 w/w) have been studied. It has been established that polymer glasses made from compositions in which the difference in the Hildebrand solubility parameter between the monomers is close to 3 MPa^1/2 are light-scattering. An opaque polymer is formed during photopolymerization of transparent OCM-2–isodecyl acrylate (IDA) mixtures in any ratio in the IDA concentration range from 20 to 80 wt %. The dependence of light transmittance of polymers at a wavelength of 500 nm on the IDA concentration has the form of an inverted bell with a minimum of light transmittance at a component ratio of 40 : 60 by weight. With increasing IDA content, the elasticity of the polymer increases. A dependence in the form of an inverse bell was obtained between the light transmittance at a wavelength of 500 nm and the tensile strength of polymer samples with a minimum light transmittance at σ_b ≈ 10 MPa.