UV Irradiation-induced crosslinking of aqueous solution of poly(ethylene oxide) with benzophenone as initiator

The development of a water-based polymer system that could be photocrosslinked during the drilling of fragile formations could be of a great interest. In this context, aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were photocrosslinked by ultraviolet radiation in the presence of benzophenone (BP). The photochemical crosslinking reaction showed a rate constant of 1 × 1012 L mol−1 s−1, indicating the formation of a complex between the reactants....