Photoinitiated cationic polymerizations of oxetanes require a small amount of terpene epoxides as kick-started agents to expedite the photo-polymerization kinetics useful for coating, adhesive and 3D printing applications. The kick-started oxetane systems for these reactions contain a diaryliodonium or triarylsulfonium salt, which is radicalized under UV light, hence “kickstarting” the reaction by causing ring opening of the epoxide, triggering the further ring opening polymerization with oxetanes. This reaction leads to a fully polymerized coating within several seconds. Our laboratory has been focused on synthesis and characterization of oxetane monomers, such as bis[(1-ethyl(3-oxetanyl))methyl]ether (DOX) to further examine physical properties from their kick-started photopolymerizations. Other oxetanes have also been synthesized and their kick-started photopolymerization kinetics with optical pyrometry have been investigated, as well as the glass transition temperature of the resulting polymers. We found that terpene oxides, such as limonene dioxide (LDO), are effective kick-started agents for the photoinitiated polymerizations and since they are from renewable sources, they would create more environmentally friendly coatings. Different ratios of these oxides are being applied to the oxetanes during photopolymerizations to monitor what ratios of the terpene oxides would increase the rate of polymerization, as well as shortening induction time.

Synthesis and photo-initiated cationic polymerization of kick-started oxetanes

251st National Meeting (2016)

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