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Interpenetrating polymer networks. I. Photopolymerization of multiacrylate systems
Author(s) -
Kaczmarek H.,
Decker C.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1994.070541317
Subject(s) - tmpta , photoinitiator , photopolymer , monomer , materials science , polymerization , polymer , polymer chemistry , interpenetrating polymer network , acrylate , prepolymer , polyurethane , polystyrene , vinyl chloride , chemical engineering , composite material , copolymer , engineering
The light‐induced polymerization of a triacrylate monomer (TMPTA) has been carried out in a polymer matrix to generate a semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (IPN). The reaction kinetics was followed by IR spectroscopy for the various polymer binders studied: poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene, and crosslinked polyurethane. Under intense illumination, crosslinking occurred extensively within a fraction of a second, with formation of a hard and highly resistant polymer material. These semi‐IPNs were found to be essentially insoluble in the organic solvents, thus indicating that the acrylate network is grafted onto the polymer matrix, probably because of an efficient chain transfer process. The monomer and photoinitiator concentration, as well as the light intensity were shown to have a great influence on both the rate of polymerization and the final degree of conversion. By using an acylphosphine oxide photoinitiator, PVC–;TMPTA blends have been cured within a few minutes in an accelerated QUV‐A weatherometer, which emits low‐intensity UV radiation similar to sunlight. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.