Bis(4-methacryloylthiophenyl) sulfide is a sulfur-rich difunctional methacrylate engineered for high-refractive-index (RI ≥ 1.65 @ 589 nm, 25 °C) UV/LED-curable optical systems.
The thio-ether / aromatic / methacrylate conjugation delivers:
n<sub><sup> ≈ 1.652 (literature) while maintaining Abbe number ≈ 27 – ideal for thin-film microlenses, AR/VR pancake optics, waveguide claddings, and high-n encapsulants
Low volume shrinkage (< 2 %) and fast surface-through cure with standard Type I photoinitiators (TPO, 1173, etc.)
Key Optical & Physical Data:
Refractive index (n<sub><sup>): 1.650 – 1.655 (lit. 1.652)
Abbe number (ν<sub>): 27 ± 1
Density: 1.26 ± 0.1 g cm⁻³ (20 °C)
Melting point: 64 °C (low-melt, suitable for precision moulding)
Viscosity (80 °C): 30 – 40 mPa·s (easy vacuum casting)
Volume shrinkage on cure: < 2 % (density dilatometry)
Glass-transition temperature (DSC, 2 % TPO): 135 °C
Typical Formulation Use:
High-n lens recipe example:
– 70 wt % Bis(4-methacryloylthiophenyl) sulfide (monomer)
– 28 wt % TMPTA (cross-linker, n = 1.49)
– 2 wt % TPO → UV-LED cure (365 nm, 1 J cm⁻²)
→ Cured film: n = 1.662 @ 589 nm; Tg = 142 °C; yellowness index < 2.
Quality Specification (Optical Grade):
Purity (HPLC): ≥ 97 %
Colour (Pt-Co): ≤ 50
Water content (KF): ≤ 0.1 %
Metal ions (ICP-OES): Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Fe³⁺ each ≤ 0.5 ppm
Transmittance (400 nm, 1 cm cell): ≥ 95 %
Hazard Statement:
Causes skin and eye irritation (H315 + H319); harmful if swallowed (H302). Avoid inhalation of dust; use gloves, goggles and adequate ventilation. Store at 0–10 °C away from light and oxidants. SDS available on request.
