Novel, high light capacity chemiluminescent systems are disclosed. The high capacity is produced by adding a small amount of a polymer selected from the class consisting of: (1) homopolymers and copolymers of poly(alkylene oxides); (2) homopolymers and copolymers of poly(vinyl alkyl esters) and poly(vinyl alkyl ethers) with the optional inclusion of minor amounts of alkylenes and styrenes in said copolymers; (3) 1:1 alternating copolymers of maleic anhydride with alkylenes and styrenes; (4) cellulose esters and mixed cellulose esters of 2-, 3- and 4-carbon acids and mixtures of said esters with the poly(alkylene oxides), to a chemiluminescent system containing a bisaryloxylate, an organic fluorescer a peroxide, and an organic solvent.
The invention relates to a chemiluminescent composition, i.e. one which emits light when its various constituent components are mixed together. The composition consists of at least two separate solutions of at least one oxalate, at least one fluorescent substance, hydrogen peroxide and at least one catalyst, in which those components which react together are kept separated. The characteristic of the 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene is that the oxalate is a bis(dihalo-acylphenyl)oxalate. This compound is easily and economically produced and is easily soluble in the solvents used, to provide high-intensity light emission for long time periods. The 2,4- or 2,6-acyl substituted phenyloxalate also forms a subject matter of the invention.
In producing chemiluminescence by the reaction of bis(6-carbopentoxy-2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)oxalate with a peroxide in presence of 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene the initial luminosity on mixing these reaction components in a suitable diluent is increased by using the specific concentration of bis-oxalate ester component in the range from 0.05 to 0.09 mole per liter in the reaction mixture.
Ditridecyl Phthalate and Ditridecyl Adipate are disclosed as being useful for increasing brightness and duration in Chemiluminescent Systems wherein a hydrogen peroxide component and an oxalate ester-fluorescer component are mixed and reacted to produce light.
Aqueous chemiluminescent systems have been found to exhibit improved chemiluminescence due to the presence of minor amounts of a water-soluble polymer.
Compositions intended to be reacted with hydrogen peroxide to produce chemiluminescent light are disclosed wherein the compositions contain an oxalate, a fluorescer and a soluble perylene dye.
