Intramolecular Cyclization of Reactive Mesogens for Applications in Optical Films and Coatings

• Applicant: Dr. Nils Bongartz
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: from 2009 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 132384490

With respect to the ongoing debate about sustainability in politics and the chemical industry in Europe the development of environmentally friendly materials and processing technologies is pivotal. Specifically the replacement of organic solvents in technological processes by solvent-free or water based systems is becoming increasingly desirable. UVcurable (solvent-free) polymer systems are therefore of high interest in the development of coatings, adhesives, thin-films and smart materials. However, the range of UV-curable systems is limited. Acrylates and methacrylates are the most popular choice for use by industry because of their low cost, ease of derivatization and speed of processing. Nevertheless, the use of such prepolymers can, in some cases, tend to limit the properties of the final polymer product. The aim of this project is to design new dimeric diallylamides and diallylamines with liquid crystal units (mesogenes) as linkers and to investigate the mechanism of their photopolymerization. The mesogenic linker should arrange the monomers for the photopolymerization and thus may produce materials with desirable physical properties.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professor John Goodby, Ph.D.