MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF ACRYLATE NETWORKS FORMED BY VISIBLE LASER-INDUCED POLYMERIZATION .2. CONTROL OF THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES

The mechanical properties of some acrylate networks formed by visible laser-induced polymerization were studied as a function of the initial molecular composition of the reacting mixture. The study included, besides some changes in the monomer composition, the influence of the acidity of the medium when ionizable dyes were used as photoinitiators. It was also shown that the mechanical strength of the network polymers can be significantly improved by the addition of inorganic fillers which have been surface treated with silane coupling agents containing polymerizable groups or by adding to the multifunctional acrylate monomers a solution containing a stronger preformed polymer. It was further observed that some of the physical properties of the parts formed may be anisotropic depending on the direction of laser scanning for photopolymer formation. The work also describes different attempts to obtain an elastomeric material by copolymerizing a flexible acrylated oligomer with the networking monomers.