Applications of differential scanning calorimetry to photocurable polymer systems

Abstract

Abstract Modification of a standard differential scanning calorimeter to allow irradiation of the sample material with ultraviolet light allows one to follow the course of polymerization of photocurable polymer systems. The rate and heat of polymerization are readily determined by this technique which gives it a number of very useful applications. As a quality control tool, one can use the heat of polymerization to monitor the number of reactive sites present in the prepolymer thus achieving a degree of control on the ultimate properties of the cured film. Similarly, analysis of a cured film will indicate the presence of any uncured material, thus allowing one to adjust curing conditions accordingly. The technique has numerous other applications in the study of photocurable resins, such as evaluation of initiator efficiencies, optimization of curing parameters (initiator concentration, lamp design), and the sensitivity of prepolymers to oxygen and wavelength.