Furfuryl alcohol polymerisation inside capillaries

Furfuryl alcohol, FA, oligomer polymerisation was achieved through catalysation by hydrochloric acid, HA, under two different conditions: 1) by HA vapours on the open surface of capillaries containing pure fresh distilled FA and 2) by bubbling a mixture of dry N2 gas and HA solution vapor through a bulk volume of FA. Polymerisation in the capillariesproduces coloured oligomer pellicles that falls under the action of gravity, while the ones generated by the second process do-not fall even under centrifugation. The optical absorption spectra of these oligomers are sensitive to the processing conditions-and capillary diameter. Capillary polymerisation is richer in oligomers of lower molecular weight; the 932nm absorption band being absent. A new optical absorption band at 345nm was measured associated with the water reaction product. Our results indicate that capillary polymerisation is a method that can control conjugated oligomer molecular weight distribution.