Photopolymerization is an important technology for coatings, films and adhesives industries. Cationically polymerizable monomers offer much less demanding reaction conditions in comparison to free radically polymerizable monomers. Epoxides may be polymerized by two parallel mechanisms one called the Active Chain End (ACE) mechanism, which is a chain-growth mechanism. The other is called the Activated Monomer (AM) mechanism, which is promoted by the addition of organic alcohols. In this work the physical effects of the AM mechanism are studied. Acrylate polymers were prepared via controlled radical polymerization and epoxide monomers were subsequently grafted from the pendant hydroxyl groups. Grafting was confirmed and quantified via Gel-Permeation Chromatography analysis.The acrylate polymers and monomers were prepared in a crosslinking epoxy resin. The resins were photo-cured and analyzed via Dynamic Mechanical Analysis. The AM mechanism has profound effects in property modulation based on the relative concentration of hydroxyl to epoxide functional groups.

Grafting epoxides: Using the activated monomer mechanism to decorate acrylate polymers

245th National Meeting (2013)

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