Issue 44, 2021

Imidazole based dual photo/thermal initiators for highly efficient radical polymerization under air with a metal-free approach

Abstract

By virtue of remarkable spatial resolution, a metal-free visible LED photopolymerization process, initiated by imidazole based charge transfer complexes under mild conditions (room temperature, without an inert atmosphere, monomer purification or stabilizer removal), is reported. For two multifunctional acrylate monomers, an outstanding photoinitiating ability was proved (up to 80% of acrylate function conversion) by combining imidazoles (electron donors) and iodonium salts (electron acceptors) under 405 nm LED irradiation. 3D printing experiments using a low intensity 3D printer are reported to demonstrate the performance of this CTC approach. Meanwhile, the thermal polymerization features a relatively low thermal initiating temperature, making the process more pursuable and also easier to achieve for thick samples in practice and/or polymerization in shadow areas (where light does not penetrate). As a new dual photo/thermal initiator, it showcases tremendous potential for 3D printing with high resolution and high-tech composites. This dual initiating system represents a new type of thermal initiator toward a safer way (peroxide-free) and provides a new pathway for surface repairing or modifying of direct laser writing in a low toxicity, facile manner.

Graphical abstract: Imidazole based dual photo/thermal initiators for highly efficient radical polymerization under air with a metal-free approach

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
10 ago 2021
Accepted
17 out 2021
First published
22 out 2021

Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 6386-6391

Imidazole based dual photo/thermal initiators for highly efficient radical polymerization under air with a metal-free approach

Q. Ma, S. Liu, M. Le Dot, H. Mokbel, Y. Zhang, B. Graff and J. Lalevée, Polym. Chem., 2021, 12, 6386 DOI: 10.1039/D1PY01079D

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