Ternary hybrid materials based on the photoinduced cationic polymerization of functional twin monomer and epoxides

Abstract

Homogeneous ternary silicone hybrid materials comprising phenolic resins and disubstituted polysiloxane with crosslinked epoxy resin were conveniently prepared by the photoinduced cationic ring-opening copolymerization of twin monomer (2-methyl-2-(3-glycidoxypropyl)-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxa-siline, MGS) and epoxy monomer (3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3′,4′-epoxycyclohexane, EPOX). The two monomers had good compatibility, and no phase separation occurred during long-term storage. Under the excitation, the cationic ring-opening polymerization of MGS rapidly occurred to form polysiloxane and phenolic resin, and EPOX played the role of a crosslinking agent. The reaction mechanism was explicitly proven by infrared spectroscopy, solid-state 13C and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, surface contact angle, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. SEM showed that the photocured film had no macroscopic phase separation, and the film had very good light transmittance. This study provided a new rapid method of preparing highly transparent ternary hybrid materials at room temperature through photopolymerization. It has potential applications in the fields of coatings, photoresists, and optical devices.