**Applications of Mach-Zehnder Interferometry to Studies on Local Deformation of Polymers Under Photocuring Applications of Mach-Zehnder Interferometry to Studies on Local Deformation of Polymers Under Photocuring**

Dan-Thuy Van-Pham, Minh-Tri Nguyen, Hideyuki Nakanishi, Tomohisa Norisuye and Qui Tran-Cong-Miyata Dan-Thuy Van-Pham, Minh-Tri Nguyen, Hideyuki Nakanishi, Tomohisa Norisuye and Qui Tran-Cong-Miyata Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/64611

### **Abstract**

A Mach‐Zehnder interferometer (MZI) was built and modified to in situ monitor the deformation of polymers during the photocuring process. In this review, the working principle and method of operation of this MZI were explained together with the method of data analysis. As the examples for the utilization of this modified MZI, measurements of the deformation induced by photopolymerization was demonstrated for three different types of samples: homopolymer in the bulk state, miscible polymer blends and phase‐ separated polymer blends. Finally, a concluding remark is provided for the usage of MZI in polymer research.

**Keywords:** Mach‐Zehnder interferometry, light scattering, poly(ethyl acrylate), poly(vinyl methyl ether), polystyrene, polymer blends, concentration fluctuations, phase separation, glass transition temperature, photo‐cross‐linking (photocuring), photodimerization, shrinkage, swelling
