Synthesis and characterization of easily degradable acrylate-epoxy resin with superior dielectric properties and high transmittance

Abstract

Thermally degradable thermoset acrylate-epoxy resins with thermal cleavable groups had been prepared by a series of acrylate-epoxy pre-polymers which was cured with 4-methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA). The acrylate-epoxy pre-polymers were synthesized via the radical polymerization of 3, 4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl methacrylate (EMA) with butyl methacrylate (BMA), tert-butyl methacrylate (TBMA), tert-butyl acrylate (TBA) and butyl acrylate (BA), respectively. The chemical structure of pre-polymers was characterized in detail. The thermal degradation mechanism and thermal properties, mechanical properties as well as dielectric properties of the acrylate-epoxy resins were systematically investigated. Results showed that t-butyl group and methyl group had a positive influence on the main thermal degradation process. TBMA-E/M presented lower degradation temperature (The initial degradation temperature is ~214 °C) and dielectric constant (~3.19 at 106 Hz) among these thermosets. Besides, all samples possessed similar high transmittance in the visible range. Therefore, acrylate-epoxy resins had a promising application and degraded at a desirable temperature.