Adhesion and Toxicity of Polymers Prepared Using Ionic Liquid Monomers

摘要

The focus of this research was to investigate possible applications of crosslinked polymers that could be prepared through free-radical polymerization of protic ionic liquid monomers. These monomers were synthesized through reactions of selected Bronsted acids and bases, and then polymerized with and without the aid of a free-radical initiator. It was discovered that these polymers had potential applications as adhesives, and bond strengths of various formulations were tested and compared with commercially available adhesives. Additionally, potential environmental toxicity of these polymers was investigated by performing zone of inhibition testing with select bacteria. It was determined that several of these polymers have comparable or superior bond strengths to other common adhesives, although monomer type and initiator concentration can impact these strengths. Toxicity was also dependent on these factors, with some formulations showing high toxicity and others showing few toxic effects.