Dual-cure processes: towards deformable crosslinked coatings

Two dual‐cure processes consisting of a UV‐initiated radical polymerization followed by either a UV‐induced cationic polymerisation, or a thermal addition reaction, were investigated. The feasibility of the processes was studied using an acrylate‐oxetane monomer for the UV/UV combination, and an acrylated oligoester for the UV/Heat combination. It was shown by FTIR and Tg measurements, that both steps of each process could be performed efficiently and separately. This allowed the production of a deformable partially cured coating, whose cure can then be completed, leading to the required final properties. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the increase of the functionality of the reactive diluent led to a decrease of the thermal crosslinking extent. This is probably due to the reduced mobility of the reactive species that is caused by an enhanced UV crosslinking taking place during the first step.