Fabrication of TMPTMA foams with SiO2 sub-microspheres gradient doped via slope-rotation method

Abstract

In this paper, we report a novel approach to fabricate gradient doped porous material via the slope-rotation method. By using dibutyl phthalate as the solvent, benzoin methyl ether as the photoinitiator, and silica sub-microsphere as filler, gradient doped trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) foams were fabricated after rotating and mixing, ultraviolet curing, and CO2 supercritical drying. The microstructure and gradient distribution of silica fillers were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, UV–visible absorption spectrum, and thermogravimetric analysis. The mechanical property was obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis. The results indicated that the approach was an effective method to fabricate gradient doped TMPTMA foams and had the potential to prepare any kind of gradient doped porous material derived from a sol–gel process. The mechanical property was further reinforced by gradient doping of silica sub-microspheres.