Influence of temperature and nature of photoinitiator on the formation kinetics of an interpenetrating network photocured from an epoxide/methacrylate system

This paper deals with the synthesis of an interpenetrating network made of dimethacrylate and dicycloepoxide oligomers by photopolymerization. More particularly, the influence of several parameters (among which the photoinitiator nature and the reaction temperature) on the polymerization kinetics of each oligomer was studied. Two complementary analysis techniques were then used : the photocalorimetry and the RTIR spectroscopy. The study proceeded in several steps. Firstly, photopolymerization of each monomer was studied. Then, the same study was carried out on mixture of both monomers under conditions in such way than only one network is formed. It was shown that the second compound played the role of plasticizer on the network formed by the first monomer. Finally, the dimethacrylate/dicycloepoxide mixture was studied in the presence of both radical and cationic photoinitiators to synthesize an interpenetrating network (IPN). At 30 °C, ultimate products show a very incomplete epoxide conversion whereas the yield in methacrylic double bonds reaches 70%. On the other hand, epoxy functions react a little more than methacrylic double bonds at 90 °C. It was also shown that the presence of a radical photoinitiator is not necessary, and even slightly unfavourable, since the cationic photoinitiator is able to initiate both radical and cationic polymerization mechanisms.