In situ fabrication of polyacrylate/nanozirconia hybrid material via frontal photopolymerization

Frontal photopolymerization was applied to fabricate polymer/nanozirconia hybrid material by using acrylates as polymerizable components and tetrabutyl zirconate (TBZ) as the precursor of nanozirconia, respectively. The nanozirconia particles were in-situ generated with the polymerization front traveling and gradiently dispersed in the simultaneously formed polymer rod. The iodonium salt was utilized as photoacid generator to produce protonic acid and drive TBZ into nanozirconia particles. With the frontal polymerization traveling downward, the particle size and concentration of zirconia increased, but layer-resolved conversion of TBZ decreased. The particle size of zirconia could be reduced remarkably by the protection of monoalkyl titanate bearing six long chains. The refractive index of the hybrid rod was found to increase from top to down. The top–down layer-resolved storage modulus of the hybrid rod increased due to nanoparticle filling effect but decreased beyond the depth of 4 cm from the top, which may be ascribed to particle aggregation. This project is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 20304019, 60378029).     

General conditions and experimental design of sustained frontal photopolymerization in photopolymerizable liquid compositions

It has been shown that, in order to accomplish frontal photopolymerization in the mode of a self-sustained travelling wave, it is necessary to use compositions that are optically transparent behind the front and experience the onset of gelling at a minimal degree of polymerization, e.g., systems based on oligoether (meth)acrylates. With the use of a composition containing oligocarbonate methacrylate and the o-benzoquinone-amine photoinitiator system, frontal photopolymerization in a layer of more than 100 mm in thickness was experimentally revealed. It was shown that the photoinitiator and monomer conversion fronts synchronously propagate into the layer. It was found that the coordinate of the leading edge of the monomer conversion front h is related to the irradiated time τ by the equations h = A ₁ log τ ? B and h = A ₂ τ ? B at the first and the second step of frontal polymerization, respectively. It was found that the thickness of the area of the formulation layer in which the condition h = A ₁ logτ ? B is fulfilled is equal to the width of the photoinitiator and monomer conversion front. A general equation of motion of the coordinate of the photoinitiator conversion label in the layer of a liquid photopolymerizable composition during sustained frontal photopolymerization was proposed for describing experimental data.     

Effects of thiols,lithium chloride,and ethoxylated monomers on the frontal polymerization of a triacrylate

Thermal frontal polymerization is a process in which a localized reaction propagates through an unstirred system by the coupling of the thermal diffusion and the Arrhenius kinetics of an exothermic polymerization. With multifunctional acrylates, such as trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA‐n), front temperatures can reach 250 °C, resulting in smoke from unreacted peroxide. Addition of a thiol lowers the front temperature and the front velocity due the copolymerization between the thiol and the acrylate, with some formulations not sufficiently reactive to sustain frontal polymerization. The effects of molecular weight per thiol and functionality of thiol on front temperature and velocity were studied in the frontal copolymerization of TMPTA‐n/trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate and different thiols. We also investigated the front temperature and velocity for a system containing triacrylate and dodecyl acrylate. Finally, the effects of lithium chloride in the presence of thiol on the front velocity and front temperature were studied. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Analytical estimates of front velocity in the frontal polymerization of thermoset polymers and composites

This note presents approximate analytical expressions for the velocity of the self-propagating reaction front in the frontal polymerization of thermoset polymers and composites. Prior estimates available in the literature for the front velocity have been limited by their applicability to simple reaction kinetics. The improved estimates provided in this work are shown to be applicable to complex reaction kinetics encountered in the frontal polymerization of neat thermoset polymers or fiber-reinforced polymer-matrix composites with a wide range of polymer chemistries, including dicyclopentadiene, cyclooctadiene, acrylates, and epoxies. They are also shown to be applicable to wide range of values of the initial temperature and initial degree of cure of the resin, and of the volume fraction of the reinforcing phase.     

Synthesis and photochemical reaction of novel p-alkylcalix[6]arene derivatives containing acryloyl or methacryloyl groups

Novel polyfunctional (meth)acrylates with a calixarene backbone [calixarene (meth)acrylates] were synthesized in good yields by certain reactions of p-methylcalix[6]arene (1a) or p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene (1b) with (meth)acrylate derivatives such as acryloyl chloride, methacryloyl chloride, (2-methacryloxy)ethyl isocyanate, and glycidyl methacrylate. Polyfunctional acrylate 6a having poly(oxyethylene) spacer chain between 1a and acrylate groups was also synthesized by the reaction of the poly(oxyethylene) modified 1a with acrylic acid. Calixarene acrylate 6a was liquid at room temperature, although the other calixarene (meth)acrylates were solid at room temperature. The initial decomposition temperature (IDT) of the resulting calixarene (meth)acrylates was measured by the thermogravimetric analysis to evaluate the thermal stability, and it was found that some of the IDTs of the calixarene acrylates were over 400°C. This means that calixarene (meth)acrylates have very good thermal stability. The photopolymerization of the resulting some calixarene (meth)acrylates with (2-phenyoxy)ethyl acrylate as a reactive diluent in the presence of photoinitiator proceeded smoothly upon irradiation with UV light. Therefore, polyfunctional (meth)acrylates with a calixarene backbone can be expected to be novel and thermally stable photoreactive acrylate oligomers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3071–3078, 1999     

Influence of the secondary functionality on the radical‐vinyl chemistry of highly reactive monoacrylates

The impact of secondary functionalities on the radical‐vinyl chemistry of monoacrylates characterized by secondary functionalities that dramatically enhance their polymerization rate was elucidated utilizing experimental and computational techniques. Firstly, bulk interactions affecting the acrylate reactivity towards photopolymerization were removed by polymerizing at 5 wt % monomer in 1,4‐dioxane. Following deconvolution of bulk interactions impacting reactivity towards photopolymerization, a linear correlation between average polymerization rates and Michael addition reaction rate constants was observed on a logarithmic scale. This result indicates that the presence of the secondary functionality intramolecularly alters the monomer chemistry in a manner which impacts both of these distinct reaction types in a similar manner. These monomers exhibited reduced activation energies in both Michael addition and photopolymerization reactions as compared to hexyl acrylate. Reduction up to 20 ± 8 kJ mole^?1was observed for Michael addition reactions and 12 ± 1 kJ mole^?1 for photopolymerization reactions, thereby explaining the higher reactivity of the acrylates characterized by the secondary functionalities. Cyclic voltammetry experiments conducted to investigate the nature of the acrylic double bonds indicated that the rapidly polymerizing acrylates are more readily reduced as compared to traditional acrylates. Further, a distinct monotonic correlation of the irreversible cathodic peak potentials of the (meth)acrylates to photopolymerization and Michael addition reactivity was observed. The computationally estimated acrylic LUMO energies characterized by the secondary functionalities (?2.3 eV to ?2.7 eV) were also found to be lower relative to hexyl acrylate (?2.2 eV). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4859–4870, 2009     

Real-time FTIR-ATR spectroscopy of photopolymerization reactions

Real-time FTIR-ATR spectroscopy was used to study radical photo-polymerization reactions. Investigations on various acrylate systems deal with the effect of temperature on the kinetics of the polymerization reaction and the characterization of the depth profile of the conversion of double bonds. Moreover, first results on the photoinitiator-free photopolymerization of acrylates by exposure to short-wavelength UV radiation will be reported. The potential of the method will also be demonstrated in simulations of various irradiation regimes in technical UV curing processes.     

Control of anchoring of nematic fluids at polymer surfaces created by in situ photopolymerization

In situ photopolymerization of alkyl acrylate monomers in the presence of a nematic fluid provides a cellular matrix of liquid crystalline droplets in which the chemical structure of the encapsulating polymer exerts control over the alignment (anchoring) of the liquid crystalline molecules. Control is obtained by variation of the alkyl side chains and through copolymerization of two dissimilar monofunctional acrylates. For example, among a series of poly(methylheptyl acrylate)s, the 1-methylheptyl analogue prefers planar anchoring of a nematic (TL205) over the temperature range studied. However, the polymers of other methylheptyl side chains display a homeotropic-to-planar anchoring thermal transition temperature similar to that of the n-heptyl analogue. Copolymerization of two monofunctional acrylates with opposing tendencies of aligning liquid crystal leads to tunability of anchoring behavior over a wide temperature range. The broad anchoring transitions we observed provide a way of achieving highly tilted anchoring.     

A study of the effects of thiols on the frontal polymerization and pot life of multifunctional acrylate systems with cumene hydroperoxide

In an effort to create frontal polymerization systems with a “fail‐safe” curing mechanism, we studied the effects of thiols on the thermal frontal polymerization velocity and pot life of a mixture of a multifunctional acrylate, kaolin clay (filler), and cumene hydroperoxide with either trimethylolpropane tris(3‐mercaptopropionate) or 1‐dodecanethiol (DDT). The acrylates were trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate, 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate, and di(ethylene glycol) diacrylate. Without a thiol, frontal polymerization did not occur. The front velocity increased with the concentration of either thiol, which has not been observed with peroxide initiators. The use of DDT yielded longer pot lives than the trithiol. The front velocities were inversely related to the pot lives. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3850–3855     

Synthesis and photopolymerization kinetics of multifunctional aromatic urethane acrylates containing tertiary amine group

Two multifunctional aromatic urethane acrylates, based on 2, 4‐toluene diisocyanate (2, 4‐TDI), β‐hydroxyethyl arcylate (HEA), and synthetic multifunctional hydroxyl compounds, were synthesized by classical condensation reaction. FTIR was used to monitor the process of the reaction. The photopolymerization kinetics of the urethane acrylates with different photoinitiators was studied by Real‐Time Infrared Spectroscopy. The results indicated that different from the commercial urethane acrylate CN 975, the synthetic multifunctional urethane acrylates could be efficiently initiated by BP without the addition of any co‐initiators as they have tertiary amine structures. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photopolymerization of acrylates without photoinitiators with short‐wavelength UV radiation: A study with real‐time fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

This article reports on the UV photopolymerization of acrylates without photoinitiators. Initiation of the reaction was achieved by direct excitation of the acrylates during irradiation with short‐wavelength UV light by use of the 222‐nm emission of a KrCl^* excimer lamp. The reactivity of various acrylates was studied by real‐time Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. The rate and the extent of the reaction within the layer were strongly dependent on the depth of penetration of UV light, which was determined by the molar extinction coefficient of the acrylate. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 894–901, 2004     

IR dichroism study of orientational ordering of liquid-crystalline acrylates

Orientational ordering of four liquid-crystalline acrylates induced by the surface of KBr plates over a wide temperature range was studied by the IR dichroism technique. IR spectra of homogeneously aligned samples were used to calculate the angles between the direction of the transition moment for a series of vibrations of the mesogenic fragment and its long axis. A method for calculation of the homeotropic orientation parameter of molecules was proposed. The orientation parameters of homogeneously and homeotropically aligned samples in the nematic, smectic (A), and chiral smectic (I andH) phases were calculated. Thein situ photopolymerization of acrylates in the smectic phases occurs with retention of the orientational ordering in the polymer films formed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 319–323, February, 1999.     

Thiol‐ene photopolymerization for efficient curing of vinyl esters

Monomers for radical photopolymerization based on vinyl esters (VEs) have recently been identified as suitable alternatives to (meth)acrylates on account of their low irritancy and cytotoxicity. The drawback of most VEs with abstractable hydrogens is their relatively low reactivity compared with (meth)acrylates. Within this article, we proved by photo‐differential scanning calorimetry measurements and real‐time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy that the thiol‐ene concept is able to improve the photoreactivity of these VEs to a large extent to a level between those of acrylates and methacrylates. Other VEs have now a reactivity of at least the level of similar acrylates. Mechanical properties as determined by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and Charpy impact tests showed significant toughening of these materials. Furthermore, we were able to confirm low toxicity of all components by osteoblast cell culture experiments. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Frontal photopolymerization for microfluidic applications

Frontal photopolymerization (FPP) offers numerous advantages for the rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices. Quantitative utilization of this method, however, requires a control of the vertical dimensions of the patterned resist material. To address this fundamental problem, we study the ultraviolet (UV) photopolymerization of a series of multifunctional thiolene resists through a combination of experiments and analytical modeling of the polymerization fronts. We describe this nonlinear spatio-temporal growth process in terms of a "minimal" model involving an order parameter phi(x, t) characterizing the extent of monomer-to-polymer conversion, the optical attenuation T(x, t), and the solid front position h(t). The latter exhibits an induction time (or equivalent critical UV dose) characterizing the onset of frontal propagation. We also observe a novel transition between two logarithmic rates of growth, determined by the Beer-Lambert attenuation constants mu(0) and mu(infinity) of the monomer and fully polymerized material, respectively. The measured frontal kinetics and optical transmission of the thiolene resist materials are consistent with our photopolymerization model, exhibiting both "photodarkening" and "photoinvariant" polymerization. This is apparently the first observation of photodarkening reported in FPP. On the basis of these results, multilevel fluidic devices with controlled height are readily fabricated with modulated illumination. A representative two-level microfluidic device, incorporating a chaotic mixer, a T junction, and a series of controlled flow constrictions, illustrates the practical versatility of this fabrication method.     

大分子量二苯甲酮光引发剂的合成及动力学研究

以4-羟基二苯甲酮(HBP)、甲苯-2,4-二异氰酸酯(TDI)、4,4′-二羟基二苯甲酮(DHBP)为原料,通过两步反应,合成了一种大分子量二苯甲酮光引发剂:HBP-TDI-DHBP-TDI-HBP(HTDTH).通过实时红外研究了HTDTH的光聚合动力学.结果表明,HTDTH是一种有效的光引发剂.采用HTDTH/胺光引发体系引发二缩三丙二醇二丙烯酸酯(TPGDA)聚合时,随着胺和引发剂浓度的增大,反应速率(R_p)和单体最终转化率(P)同时增大.     

可聚合型光引发剂4-丙烯酰氧基二苯甲酮的光聚合性能研究

以实时红外光谱(RT-IR)法研究了合成的4-丙烯酰氧基二苯甲酮(4-ABP)的光聚合动力学性质,考察了不同单体、不同引发剂和助引发剂浓度、不同光强对聚合性能的影响.以萃取法对比研究了4-ABP和二苯甲酮(BP)在固化膜中的的残留量.结果表明,4-ABP是一种非常有效的光引发剂.随着引发剂浓度和光强的增大,单体转化率、最大反应速率都增大,诱导期缩短.萃取实验表明4-ABP在固化膜中的残留量远低于BP.     

Photopolymerization kinetics of ionic liquid monomers derived from the neutralization reaction between trialkylamines and acid‐containing (meth)acrylates

Polymerizable ionic liquids were synthesized from the neutralization reaction between trialkylamines (tributylamine, trihexylamine, trioctylamine, 2‐(dimethyl‐amino)ethyl acrylate, and 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) and acid‐containing (meth)acrylates to study the kinetics of their photopolymerization. The ionic liquids formed from acrylic acid and methacrylic acid with trialkylamines showed low or moderate increases in rate compared to their monofunctional analogues. The ionic liquids formed from (meth)acrylic acid and a tertiary amine with a pendant acrylate exhibited rates typical of traditional di(meth)acrylates, although the (meth)acrylates were not covalently attached to the same molecule. All of the phosphate‐based ionic liquids exhibited very rapid polymerization rates and strong dependence on the initial viscosity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3009–3021, 2007     

Preparation and evaluation of polyacrylate-coated fused-silica capillaries for reversed-phase open-tubular liquid chromatography

By in situ photopolymerization of acrylates, thick polyacrylate films can be immobilized in 10-μm fused-silica capillaries. Up to 1.9-μm thick films can be produced in 0.3–1.2 m long capillaries, resulting in phase ratios> 1.0 and leading to columns with high mass loadability. Owing to the high mass loadability, application of “on-column” UV detection is possible. The effect of incorporating alkyl acrylates in the film on retention behaviour and efficiency was extensively investigated. The success rate of the preparation of silicone—ethylhexyl acrylate films is almost 100%. The polyacrylate films are stable towards basic solutions up to pH 12. The column efficiency is demonstrated with separations of anthracene derivatives. A fast separation of methyl-substituted benzenes with on-column UV detection is shown.     

Frontal copolymerization synthesis and property characterization of starch-graft-poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels

Recently, a considerable amount of research has centered on uniquely structured polymers synthesized through self-propagating frontal polymerization. The obtained polymer materials have better features than those obtained by using the classical batch route. The additional advantages are short reaction times and low cost. This work describes the first frontal polymerization synthesis of a graft copolymer superabsorbent hydrogel of acrylic acid onto starch at high monomer and initiator concentration. The effects of varying the relative amounts of the reaction components on the most relevant parameters relating to frontal polymerization were explored. The front velocity dependence on initiator concentration could be fit to a power function. The temperature profiles were found to be very sharp with a maximum temperature below 150 degrees C, which was responsible for high monomer conversion. The ultimate properties of the product appear to depend on the polymerization front velocity and the temperature. The high-temperature and rapid temperature increase at the polymerization front led to products with interconnected porous structures caused by the evaporation of water. So, a fast-swelling, highly absorbing hydrogel with respect to batch polymerization was obtained.     

Efficient photopolymerization of thick pigmented systems using upconversion nanoparticles‐assisted photochemistry

Photopolymerization of thick pigmented systems still remains challenging due to the light screening effect of the pigments. Here, we present a facile method based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)‐assisted photochemistry to achieve efficient photopolymerization and improved curing depth of pigmented systems. Under a 980‐nm laser irradiation, UCNPs are able to convert NIR light into UV and visible light to activate photoinitiators for the initiation of polymerization. Influencing factors on photopolymerization were systematically investigated. With optimal parameters, 25.5 mm of photopolymerization depth combined with 70% of maximal double bond conversion was obtained. The peak temperature of 120.4 °C during UCNPs‐assisted photopolymerization is comparable with or lower than that of some reported frontal photopolymerization applied to prepare functional composite polymeric materials. Both indentation hardness and reduced modulus of the photocured materials using UCNPs as internal lamps were higher than those of the reference cured under traditional blue LED light. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 994–1002