| abstract |
Melanin is used as the absorbing pigment for radiation protective eyeware. Thus, a melanin-plastic copolymer was formed by adding a catalyst (benzoyl peroxide) to the liquid monomer, diethylene glycol bis allyl carbonate (CR-39), which contained dissolved catechol (a melanin precursor); the solution was heated for one day at 50 degrees celsius and an additional two days at 65 degrees celsius and yielded an optically transparent solid plastic with amber color and with an optical absorption spectrum very close to that associated with melanin. |