Simultaneous initiation of radical and cationic polymerization reactions using the “G1” copper complex as photoredox catalyst: Applications of free radical/cationic hybrid photopolymerization in the composites and 3D printing fields

Abstract

This investigation presents the use of a photoredox catalyst "G1" as a photoinitiating system for free radical/cationic hybrid polymerization under mild irradiation conditions. The G1 system (G1/iodonium salt/N-vinylcarbazole), can simultaneously initiate the free radical and cationic polymerization reactions upon exposure to a visible (405 nm) light from a Light Emitting Diode (LED) source. The multicomponent G1 system is able to simultaneously generate radical and cationic species through a catalytic photoredox process. The curing of thin samples (25 μm), thick samples (1.4 mm) as well as the manufacture of hybrid system/glass fibers composites (˜2 to 4 mm thickness) was realized and the influence of the ratio of cationic/radical monomer blends on the polymerization kinetics was studied. The use of G1 in visible light photoinitiating system for the access to composites and 3D printing experiments was particularly outlined. G1 was also shown to have low levels of migration from the cured materials. When compared to reference materials ("F1", a similar copper complex and an anthracene derivative, dibutoxy anthracene), G1 showed better polymerization efficiency. The initiation efficiency was investigated through the real-time Fourier transform infrared (RT-FTIR) spectroscopy and optical pyrometry. Dynamical Mechanical Analysis has been used to determine the glass temperature transition of the cured hybrid system as a complementary technique.