Cationic Polymerization: New Developments and Applications

The chemistry and technology of photoinitiated cationic polymerization is a rapidly advancing field of investigation. This article reports on recent developments made in our laboratory in the development of new photoinitiators and photosensitizers. S,S-Dialkyl-S-phenacylsulfonium salts have been prepared using a new, highly efficient and cost-effective synthetic method and their use in the polymerization of various monomer systems studied. Also described is the development of alkoxyanthracene photosensitizers that may be employed to broaden the spectral sensitivity of various onium salt photoinitiators including the new S,S-dialkyl-S-phenacylsulfonium salts. A marked acceleration of the rate of the ring-opening polymerization of epoxide monomers was achieved using these photosensitizers. This article concludes with a brief discussion of the use of photoinitiated cationic polymerizations in such typical applications as can coatings, silicone release coatings and in stereolithography.     

光引发阳离子聚合反应的研究：Ⅲ.硫翁盐BDS引发环氧化合物光聚合的DSC…

用改装的国产ＣＤＲ－１型ＤＳＣ仪研究了苯基缩水甘油醚（ＰＧＥ）和环氧树脂（Ｅ－５１）以双－［４－（二苯硫翁基）苯基］硫－二－六氟化磷引发的光聚合。研究了引发剂浓度，光强，温度等因素对聚合反应的影响。对于ＰＧＥ，聚合速率与引发剂浓度的０．９０次方，与光强的０．７８次方成比例。对于Ｅ－５１，聚合速率与引发剂浓度的０．８７次方式成比例，而与光强的关系则比较复杂。温度分别超过７０℃（对ＰＧＥ）或８０℃（对     

Photoinduced cationic ring‐opening frontal polymerizations of oxetanes and oxiranes

The photoinitiated cationic ring‐opening polymerizations of certain epoxides and 3,3‐disubstituted oxetanes display the characteristics of frontal polymerizations. When irradiated with UV light, these monomers display a marked induction period, during which little conversion of the monomer to the polymer takes place. The local application of heat to an irradiated monomer sample results in polymerization that occurs as a front propagating rapidly throughout the entire reaction mass. For the characterization of these frontal polymerizations, the use of a new monitoring technique, employing optical pyrometry, has been instituted. This method provides a simple, rapid means of following these fast polymerizations and quantitatively determining their frontal velocities. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1630–1646, 2004     

4-乙烯基-1-环己烯二环氧化物阳离子单体光聚合性能研究

本文用实时红外光谱研究了4-乙烯基-1-环己烯二环氧化物(TTA22)单体的光聚合性能。分别考察了光引发剂浓度、光源、光强及增感剂浓度对其光聚合性能的影响。选用3,4-环氧环己基甲酸-3′,4′-环氧环己基甲酯(TTA21)作为参照,比较了不同单体的光固化性能。结果表明,随着引发剂浓度以及光强的增加,环氧基转化率及转化速率随之增加。LED光源下单体的转化率和转化速率低于UV汞灯。对TTA22和TTA21光固化后材料的热稳定性进行分析,结果显示TTA21的热稳定性优于TTA22的。     

Indian Turmeric and its Use in Cationic Photopolymerizations

Curcumin, an intensely yellow dye isolated from Indian turmeric is an excellent electron-transfer photosensitizer for cationic vinyl and ring-opening polymerizations. Especially attractive features of curcumin are its strong absorption, broad spectral sensitivity, efficient electron-transfer, low toxicity and low cost. Using curcumin as a photosensitizer, the cationic photopolymerizations of a variety of monomers were carried out including such naturally derived monomers as epoxidized terpenes and epoxidized vegetable oils. The impact of this technology on applications such as housing, boat-building and water distribution is discussed.     

光固化阳离子活性稀释剂研究进展

随着光固化技术的发展,当前广泛使用的自由基光固化逐渐显示出一些弊端,与自由基光固化相比,阳离子光固化逐渐显示出其固有的优势,如体积收缩小、附着力强、无氧阻聚等。活性稀释剂作为阳离子光固化配方中的重要组成,对配方的固化及最终产品的机械物理性能具有显著影响,因此开发可快速固化的活性稀释剂具有重要的意义。本文介绍了阳离子活性稀释剂的作用原理及特点,并对其发展前景和方向进行了展望。     

Cationic polymerization of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A

The cationic nonlinear polymerization of diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A (DGEBA) in the presence of a diluent γ-butyrolactone (BL) was initiated by the BF₃-4-methoxyaniline (MA) complex. The reaction was studied by size exclusion chromatography, DSC, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Reaction mechanism involves a fast formation of adducts of DGEBA with MA released from the initiator. Formation of spiro orthoesters (S) by reaction of BL with DGEBA and homopolymerization of DGEBA as well as copolymerization with S follow. Gelation occurs at 60°C within a few minutes at conversion of epoxy groups (ξ_E)_c = 0.20–0.45. The networks cured under optimum conditions show high glass transition temperature, T_α = 178°C. The mechanism-structure-property relations are discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Antistatic Epoxy Coatings With Carbon Nanotubes Obtained by Cationic Photopolymerization

Antistatic epoxy coatings are obtained, for the first time, by cationic UV curing of an epoxy resin in the presence of a very low content of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). It is shown that the addition of only 0.025 wt.‐% of CNTs into the resin is sufficient to obtain a composite suitable for applications that require electrostatic discharge. An extended percolative structure that forms a conductive CNT network is clearly evidenced within the polymeric matrix, notwithstanding the very small CNT content. The use of such UV‐cured epoxy material systems for antistatic coatings is quite realistic and promising.

     

Synthesis of epoxy monomers that undergo synergistic photopolymerization by a radical‐induced cationic mechanism

A series of novel, cycloaliphatic, cationically photopolymerizable epoxide monomers bearing benzyl ether groups were prepared. These monomers display a considerable enhancement in the rate of their cationic ring‐opening polymerizations in comparison with monomers that do not contain such groups. In this article, a synergistic free‐radical mechanism is proposed that accounts for this effect, and supporting evidence is offered for its verification. During UV irradiation of an onium salt cationic photoinitiator, the aryl radicals that are generated abstract labile benzyl hydrogens present in such monomers to generate the corresponding carbon‐centered radicals. Subsequently, these radicals are oxidized to benzyl carbocations by the onium salt via a nonphotochemical chain process. The observed increase in the rate and extent of the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of the epoxide monomers is due to the aforementioned mechanism, which effectively increases the number of reactive cationic species present during polymerization. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3578–3592, 2001     

Study of the Cationic Photopolymerization of Multifunctional Propenyl Ether Monomers

Abstract

The cationic photopolymerization of a new biorenewable monomer, glycerol tripropenyl ether, was carried out to determine whether it is suitable for use in such thin film applications as photocurable inks, coatings, and adhesives. Studies of the photoinduced homopolymerization of this monomer and its copolymerizations with other mono- and difunctional propenyl ethers were conducted in the presence of diaryliodonium and triarylsulfonium salt initiators. The dependence of such properties as the gel fraction, hardness, impact, and adhesion of model coatings upon the structure and composition of the monomers used and on UV irradiation dose and postcure were investigated.     

基于UV-LED茂铁盐体系对脂环族环氧单体的阳离子光聚合动力学研究

本文利用实时傅里叶变换红外光谱(real-time FTIR)研究了脂环族环氧单体(CE)在405 nm UV-LED光源下的光聚合动力学。以η6-异丙苯茂铁六氟磷酸盐(I-261)作为阳离子光引发剂,2-异丙基硫杂蒽酮(ITX)、姜黄素(CC)和1-[4-(苯基偶氮)苯基偶氮]-2-萘酚(SudanⅢ)作为光敏剂,探究该茂铁盐体系对CE单体环氧基团转化率及聚合速率的影响。结果表明,尽管所有光敏剂都能有效地引发光聚合,但是ITX和CC体系在405 nm光源的辐照下表现出更高的聚合效率。在8.0%(质量分数)I-261和0.5%ITX条件下,CE的单体转化率从74.4%提高至89%以上,最大聚合速率提高了1.9倍。在8.0%(质量分数)I-261和1.0%CC条件下,CE的单体转化率从74.4%提高至88%以上,最大聚合速率提高了1.7倍。     

Synthesis and Photopolymerization of Silicon-Containing Multifunctional Oxetane Monomers

Abstract

A series of silicon-containing multifunctional oxetane monomers has been prepared and characterized. These monomers were compared among themselves and with other oxetane monomers with respect to their reactivity in photoinitiated cationic polymerization.     

Photoactivated Cationic Frontal Polymerization

Photoactivated cationic ring-opening polymerizations of certain oxirane and oxetane monomers take place in a frontal manner. The study of the frontal behavior of those monomers was conducted using a new analytical technique involving optical pyrometry that provides insight into the mechanism of these polymerizations.     

新型三官能团脂环族环氧化合物的合成、表征及其阳离子引发光固化活性研究

以双环戊二烯等为原料合成一种新型三官能团液体脂环族环氧树脂. 通过红外光谱、 核磁共振氢谱及质谱等对其中间体及环氧树脂的结构进行了表征. 所得脂环族环氧树脂采用阳离子引发 剂二甲苯基碘鎓六氟磷酸盐引发进行紫外光固化, 对其光固化活性进行了研究, 同时讨论了氧化剂过氧化苯甲酰对该光固化体系的增感作用. 研究结果表明, 新合成的脂环族环氧树脂采用二甲苯基碘鎓六氟磷酸盐引发可以进行光固化, 过氧化苯甲酰明显地加快了其光固化速度, 固化膜具有较好的热稳定性.     

Cationic photopolymerization of alkyl glycidyl ethers

An investigation of the photoactivated cationic ring‐opening frontal polymerizations of a series of alkyl glycidyl ethers was carried out with the aid of a novel technique, optical pyrometry. With this technique, the effects of various experimental parameters, such as the photoinitiator type and concentration, as well as the effects of the monomer structure on the frontal behavior of these monomers were examined. Upon irradiation with UV light, the photopolymerizations of many alkyl glycidyl ethers displayed a prominent induction period at room temperature as the result of the formation of long‐lived, relatively stable secondary oxonium ions. The input of only a small amount of thermal activation energy was required to induce the further reaction of these species with the consequent autoaccelerated exothermic ring‐opening polymerization. Photoactivated frontal polymerizations were observed for both mono‐ and polyfunctional alkyl glycidyl ether monomers. The ability of monomers to exhibit frontal behavior was found to be related to their ability to stabilize the secondary oxonium ion intermediates through hydrogen‐bonding effects. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3036–3052, 2006     

Ketene acetal monomers: Cationic photopolymerization

A study of the photoinduced cationic polymerization of a novel series of cyclic and acyclic ketene acetal monomers was carried out. It was observed that the cyclic monomers underwent facile cationic polymerization to give high molecular weight polymers while the acyclic ketene acetals did not. Thermally induced polymerization was also observed on standing catalyzed by glass surfaces. Photoinduced cationic polymerizations employing both diaryliodonium and triarylsulfonium salt photoinitiators were studied. It was observed that the position and type of substitutents in the cyclic ketene acetals was the major factor in determining the proportion of vinyl and ring-opening polymerizations that take place. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Cationic polymerization of diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A. II. theory

Network formation in cationic polymerization of polyepoxides was treated using a combination of kinetic theory and the statistical theory of branching processes (TBP). The complex reaction mechanism involved a degradative termination reaction affecting the molecular weight distribution of the primary chains. Moreover, formation of low-molecular-weight products, initiation, two mechanisms of propagation and transfer were taken into account. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 651–663, 1997     

Photopolymerization of oxetane based systems

Oxetane based systems were investigated in cationic photopolymerization process. The effect on the rate of polymerization induced by the presence of epoxy monofunctional monomers and vinyl ether monomers were investigated. In both cases an increase of the rate of polymerization is evidenced either induced by a flexibilization effect due to a copolymerization or to a cross-propagation mechanism. Acrylate comonomers were also investigated and the formation of an IPN tightly cross-linked evidenced.     

Photoinitiated Cationic Polymerization of Unconventional Monomers

Photoinitiated cationic polymerization of unconventional monomers namely, benzoxazines, monothiocarbonates and macromonomers of poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene oxide) is described. Ring opening polymerization of benzoxazines and thiocarbonates by direct and sensitized photoinitiation using onium salts was studied. The structures of the resulting polybenzoxazine were complex and related to the ring opening process of the protanated monomer either at through oxygen or nitrogen atoms. In the case of monothiocarbonate, the polymerization was accompanied with isomerization of thiocarbonate group. The potential use of macromonomers in photoiniated cationic polymerization to design complex macromolecular structures such as graft copolymers, water-borne photoresist materials and networks with dangling chains was presented. Photoinduced oxidative polymerization of thiophene, precursor for conducting polymers, using onium salts was also demonstrated.