Methacrylated dendrimers in thiol‐methacrylate networks and the effect of conversion on the thermoset properties

A series of well‐defined methacrylate‐functionalized polyester dendrimers based on 2,2‐bis(methylol)propionic acid (bis‐MPA) has been synthesized divergently. The thermal properties and conversion of the methacrylate functional dendrimers are investigated along with the structure‐property relationship of networks composed of the methacrylate dendrimers and two commercially available trifunctional thiols, trimethylolpropane tri(3‐mercaptopropanoate) (TRIS) and ethoxylated trimethylolpropane tri(3‐mercaptopropanoate) (ETTMP). The thiol‐methacrylate reactions were conducted at room temperature, under ambient conditions, and triggered by UV light in the presence of a photoinitiator. Crosslinked films were obtained and characterized with respect to conversion (FT‐Raman) and thermal (DSC and TGA) properties. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5815–5826, 2009