Abstract

The photolysis of safranine T in the presence of triethanolamine has been used as a source of free radicals in the polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate in aqueous solution. The polymerization rate was measured at several amine and dye concentrations. Flash photolysis studies of safranine in basic aqueous solutions indicate that the photoinitiation proceeds by the amine radicals formed in the interaction of the unprotonated form of the dye triplet with the hydroxyl amine. Primary radical termination does not play a significant role. Copyright © 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.