The mutual diffusion coefficient for (meth)acrylate monomers as determined with a nuclear microprobe

Abstract

A nuclear microprobe was used for the determination of the value of mutual diffusion coefficient DV of two acrylic monomers. The monomer diffusion profiles were studied with a scanning 2.1 MeV proton microprobe. A linear dependence of the diffusion coefficient on volume fractions was used as a first-order approximation. Best fits of the diffusion profiles were obtained for a value of b=0.38±0.15, which is the ratio of the diffusion coefficient of the Si-dimethacrylate in pure Cl-monoacrylate and the diffusion coefficient of the Cl-monoacrylate in pure Si-dimethacrylate. Results show that monomer diffusion profiles can be studied with a scanning proton microprobe if these monomers contain elements that are detectable by PIXE.