Solid photopolymerization and polymer properties of octadecyl vinyl ether

•We have demonstrated that the fast photopolymerization of octadecyl vinyl ether can be performed in the solid-state.•Compared with the liquid photopolymerization, the solid photopolymerization of octadecyl vinyl ether has advantages in reducing shrinkage.•Compared with the liquid photopolymerization, the solid photopolymerization of octadecyl vinyl ether is less sensitivity to hydroxyl compound.

The UV initiated solid-state polymerization of octadecyl vinyl ether (ODVE) was explored in this article. The crystallization process and crystal structure were investigated by XRD, DSC and FTIR. The kinetic results obtained from real time FTIR showed that ODVE performed quick cationic photopolymerization in crystalline form at about 25 °C and the conversion of double bond reached about 70% in 10 min. This advantage is attributed to the local amorphous phase of double bond and same crystalline configuration of monomer with polymer. This kind of solid-state photopolymerization could lead to polymer which will show more ordered and lower molecular weight. At the same time, it resulted in less volume shrinkage and less sensitivity to hydroxyl compound.