Issue 21, 2022

Controlling phase separated domains in UV-curable formulations with OH-functionalized prepolymers

Abstract

Modification of photocurable radical systems with high molecular weight prepolymers enables access to a wide array of polymer structures and properties. Chemical structure design of these prepolymers may lead to photopolymerization-induced phase separation in such in which the domain size and distribution as well as the interactions between prepolymers and the polymer network may be controlled. In this work, we use a controlled radical polymerization technique to synthesize prepolymers composed of butyl acrylate (BA) and hydroxyethyl acrylate in order to create hydroxyl (OH) pendant groups either at the ends or randomly distributed along the predominantly BA chain. Modulating the OH group placement and prepolymer molecular weight has a significant impact on polymer structure and properties of cross-linked acrylate systems. Specifically, photopolymerization of tetraethylene glycol diacrylate (TTGDA) with prepolymers leads to a variety of distinct phase-separated morphologies and phase distributions. These morphological changes along with the incorporation of linear low Tg prepolymers within the glassy acrylate network increase polymer elongation at break up to 9-fold while slightly reducing the Young's modulus. Consequently, these systems demonstrate a significant increase in tensile toughness at different temperatures due to formation of multiple domains. Additionally, incorporation of prepolymers into a 3D printing model acrylate formulation leads to objects with more than 500% increase in impact strength. This study shows that placement of OH groups at the ends or throughout the BA backbone enables various phase-separated morphologies for photocurable radical systems, generating polymers with enhanced elongation at break, tensile toughness, and impact strength.

Graphical abstract: Controlling phase separated domains in UV-curable formulations with OH-functionalized prepolymers

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
05 fev 2022
Accepted
05 may 2022
First published
13 may 2022

Polym. Chem., 2022,13, 3102-3115

Author version available

Controlling phase separated domains in UV-curable formulations with OH-functionalized prepolymers

E. Hasa, T. Y. Lee and C. Allan Guymon, Polym. Chem., 2022, 13, 3102 DOI: 10.1039/D2PY00159D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements