Relationship between the composition of polycarbonate copolymers and the refractive index

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2002-04, Vol.84 (3), p.514-521
• Main Author: Okamoto, Masaya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Electrical, magnetic and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; poly(dimethyl siloxane); poly(methyl methacrylate); polycarbonates; Properties and characterization; refractive index; transparency
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.2355

With a polycarbonate (PC)–poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) graft copolymer and a PC–poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) block copolymer, the relationship between the composition of PC copolymers and the refractive index (nD) was investigated. According to the results, with a PMMA content of 38 wt %, the nD value of the PC–PMMA graft copolymer was nearly the same as that of electrical (E) glass (nD = 1.545), and with a PMMA content of 6 wt %, it was nearly the same as that of electrical corrosion resistance (ECR) glass (nD = 1.579). However, with a PDMS content of 19 wt %, the nD value of the PC–PDMS block copolymer was nearly the same as that of E glass, and with a PDMS content of 2 wt %, it was nearly the same as that of ECR glass. The combination of the PC–PDMS block copolymer and the glass fibers (GFs) of ECR glass led to haze values of 8 and 16% with GF contents of 10 and 20%, respectively. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 514–521, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.2355