In-situ Raman spectroscopy investigation on the effect of heat treatment on a UDMA-TEGDMA copolymer nanocomposite doped with gold nanorods

The effects of heat treatment on a urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) - triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) copolymer with and without gold nanorod doping were investigated with in-situ Raman spectroscopy. The copolymer was prepared in 3:1 ratio, and
$25\ \text{nm} \times 85\ \text{nm}$
gold nanorods in 0.1236 m/m% concentration were doped into the mixture. Heating and cooling cycles were applied between 30°C to 140°C, and two characteristic vibration bands at 1447 cm
⁻¹
(C-H bond) and 1638 cm
⁻¹
(methacrylate C=C stretching) were monitored with in-situ Raman spectroscopy with 532 nm excitation. The measured peak intensities were used to calculate the degree of conversion
$(DC)$
of the polymers. The effect of gold nanorod doping and thermal treatments on the
$DC$
is discussed.