EFFECTS OF REACTIVE DILUENTS ON MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF A UV CURABLE ACRYLATED URETHANE PREPOLYMER

Abstract

In this study, the dependence of the mechanical properties of a UV curable acrylated urethane on reactive diluent types and their amounts was investigated. The acrylated urethane prepolymer was synthesized from isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), an aliphatic diisocyanate, and polypropylene glycol monomethacrylate (PPGMMA) by stepwise addition reaction. UV sensitive mixtures containing N-vinylpyrrolidinone (NVP), thiodiethylene glycol diacrylate (TDGDA) and isobornyl acrylate (IBoA) as reactive diluents were irradiated by UV light. An increase in reactive diluent content, either TDGDA or IBoA, caused an increase in tensile strength and a decrease in elongation values. In contrast, above a certain concentration a decrease in tensile strength was observed when NVP was used as reactive diluent. The water absorption capacities of the UV curable acrylated urethane films were observed to depend on type and amount of reactive diluent that was used. Thermooxidative properties of the films were also improved by incorporation of reactive diluents into formulations.