Structure‐property relations in UV‐curable urethane acrylate oligomers

Four urethane acrylate oligomers were synthesized by a reaction of an excess of isophorone diisocyanate (D) with polypropylene glycol Acclaim 4200N (P) with a subsequent reaction of nonreacted D with a hydroxy acrylate Tone M100 (A). The latter has a common name caprolactone acrylate. Oligomers were prepared by different ways of addition of P to D or D to P and at different ratio of [D]/[P]. The fifth oligomer ADA was prepared as an individual compound. Viscosities, GPC traces, T g 's of oligomers were taken alongside with other physical properties of cured oligomers. It was demonstrated that oligomers with P consist of ADPDA, ADA, and of a chain‐extended product A… P n … A, which has two or more Ps in a molecule. Additive contributions of these three components essentially determine properties of the liquid and cured oligomers. Structure‐property relations of urethane acrylate oligomers are discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99:489–494, 2006