The effect of interpenetrating polymer network formation on polymerization kinetics in an epoxy-acrylate system

The kinetics of thermally initiated cationic epoxy polymerization and free radical acrylate photopolymerization were studied using photodifferential scanning calorimetry. The reactions of the neat monomers and diluted monomers as well as interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were studied as a function of dilution by the other monomer and temperature. The reaction sequence was also varied to study its effect on the kinetics of formation of the simultaneous IPN's. Both reactions quickly become diffusion controlled. The effects of increasing temperature and dilution on the acrylate polymerization rate profiles are similar, leading to reduced polymerization rate and longer polymerization times. The dilution effect on the epoxy polymerization is similar to that of the acrylate. However, unlike the acrylate reaction the epoxy polymerization rate increases strongly with temperature. The preexistence of one polymer has a significant effect on the polymerization of the second monomer. This effect is larger for the acrylate than for the epoxy polymerization. New kinetic models are needed to capture these complex behaviors. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.