Thermal stability of radiation curable materials

The thermal stability of radiation curable materials was determined via TGA measurements and related to functionality, chemical type, and cure conditions. The results indicate that Tri-, Tetra-, and Penta-functional acrylates are more thermally stable than lower functional acrylates and that acrylates have better thermal stability than methacrylates. A comparison of EB, UV, and thermal curing conditions for TMPTA showed that EB-cured material was more thermally stable than UV and that thermally cured TMPTA was the least stable. The thermal stability of acrylated epoxy oligomers is again in the order of increasing functionality. The 13C carbonyl region and oxygen permeability measurements were used to determine the extent of cure and then related to thermal stability. (author)