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, be sides some changes in the monomer composition, the influence of the ac idity 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 wh ich have been surface treated with silane coupling agents containing p olymerizable groups or by adding to the multifunctional acrylate monom ers 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 photo polymer formation. The work also describes different attempts to obtai n an elastomeric material by copolymerizing a flexible acrylated oligo mer with the networking monomers.