Successful UV‐Induced RICFP of Epoxy‐Composites

• Published in: Macromolecular chemistry and physics Vol. 218; no. 18
• Main Authors: Klikovits, Nicolas, Liska, Robert, D'Anna, Alessandra, Sangermano, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2017
• Subjects: Bisphenol A; bisphenol‐A diglycidyl ether; Cationic polymerization; Composite materials; epoxy composites; Film thickness; Formulations; Mechanical properties; Monomers; Photopolymerization; Polymer matrix composites; Polymerization; Propagation (polymerization); radical induced cationic frontal polymerization; silica nanopowder; Silicon dioxide; Thermal analysis; UV‐curing
• ISSN: 1022-1352; 1521-3935
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201700313

The UV‐curing of epoxy monomers by cationic photopolymerization is a powerful method for the production of polymer materials. The limit of film thickness in cationic photopolymerization of epoxy monomers has been recently overcome by introducing a novel radical induced cationic frontal polymerization (RICFP) system within this research group. The possibility to cure epoxides in bulk by UV‐light promoted here presents the novel approach to photocured composites. In the present work, the recently established RICFP system is applied on SiO2‐filled epoxy formulations based on bisphenol‐A diglycidyl ether. The influence of filler content on frontal propagation is examined in RICFP experiments. The composite materials are also investigated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis to determine mechanical properties of the frontally polymerized products. UV‐cured bulk epoxy composites are successfully produced by bubble‐free radical induced cationic frontal polymerization (RICFP) and investigated regarding the frontal polymerization behavior. SiO2 nanopowder is used as filler to demonstrate the limits of heat‐insulating materials for RICFP composites.