Mechanistic modelling and network properties of ternary thiol-vinyl photopolymerizations

Ternary thiol-vinyl polymerizations offer a unique platform for improved control over polymerization kinetics and network properties as compared to both binary thiol-vinyl systems and traditional (meth)acrylic systems. Therefore, this study seeks to improve the fundamental understanding of the complex ternary thiol-vinyl systems to enable enhanced control over polymerization kinetics, network evolution, and, ultimately, network properties. The polymerization kinetics and material properties afforded by thiol-triazine-methacrylate systems are investigated. The ternary kinetics are successfully predicted by understanding the reaction mechanisms of the corresponding binary components. In ternary thiol-ene-(meth)acrylate systems, the variation in stoichiometric ratios of thiol and ene does not significantly impact material properties as in thiol-ene- or thiol-(meth)acrylate systems. Further, the ternary systems also provide unique polymer properties such as high glass transition temperature with narrow transition widths.