Photocurable transparent cycloaliphatic epoxy hybrid materials crosslinked by oxetane

Abstract

Organic/inorganic hybrid materials (hybrimers) were fabricated by the photocationic polymerization of solgel-derived cycloaliphatic epoxy oligosiloxane (CAEO)/oxetane blends. The CAEO/oxetane blends showed faster photocationic polymerization rates compared to a CAEO resin. The CAEO/oxetane hybrimers showed a high crosslinking density and flexibility with the addition of oxetane monomer. The increased crosslinking density improved the insulation properties and lowered their dielectric constant. The CAEO/oxetane hybrimer with a substantial thickness of 2 mm showed high transparency (>90%) in the visible range. On the basis of these properties, the CAEO/oxetane hybrimers could be applied to various applications, including optics and display fields. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012