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Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.59, No.8, 1729-1738, 2019
Controlling properties of acrylate/epoxy interpenetrating polymer networks by premature termination of radical polymerization of acrylate
An approach is presented to control properties of sequentially synthesized acrylate/epoxy interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) and is used to print uniform and graded properties. These IPNs are constructed by partial formation of the acrylate network, removal of the excess components, expansion with the epoxy system, and curing. The partial crosslinking of the initial network is controlled by photo polymerization and used to manipulate the final properties. The process is used to print homogeneous and graded IPNs with properties in the range of 10 to 1000 MPa. The curing of acrylate, the control mechanism, is studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) during curing on a temperature and environment controlled attenuated total reflection system. Fast scanning calorimetry is used to study network formation, nanoindentation is used to characterize local change of modulus, and uniaxial tensile testing is used to characterize stress response of the printed systems. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2019. (c) 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers