Photopolymerization of methacrylic acid esters in the presence of a different methacrylic acid ester polymer with different refractive index - Formation of new transparent polymer blends to control refractive index

We have developed a new technique to form transparent polymer blends consisting of two polymers with different refractive indices by a fabrication process based on the photopolymerization of methacrylate monomer(s) in the presence of other methacrylic polymers. The process can provide new transparent polymer blends which can not be formed with conventional techniques of polymer blend formation. The new polymer blend formation technique and the new transparent polymer blends are useful for producing new optical devices such as graded-index-type plastic optical fibers and plastic rod-lenses.