Photochemical properties of phenyl vinyl ketone copolymers in solid state and solution

The temperature-dependent photodegradation of styrene, methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate copolymers with phenyl vinyl ketone in the solid state and in solution on irradiation with monochromatic light at 313 nm was investigated. The quantum yields of main chain scission, Φ_cs, were calculated. It was found that the Φ_cs values in solution are higher than those in a film at ambient temperature. It is shown that these values do not equalize at temperatures above the glass transition temperature, T_g, of the copolymers.

This is confirmed for the model system butyl acrylate-phenyl vinyl ketone copolymer, studied for the first time. We assume that the experimental temperature has a greater influence on the photooxidation processes of the copolymers examined than thier physical state.