Synthesis of an epoxy functionalized spiroorthocarbonate used as low shrinkage additive in cationic UV curing of an epoxy resin

The synthesis of an epoxy functionalized spiroorthocarbonate (SOC) is reported. The obtained monomer has been used a slow shrinkable additive in cationic UV curing of a commercially available dicycloepoxy resin. A polymer network flexibilization was evidenced by increasing the SOC content in the photocurable formulation. It has been demonstrated that SOC acts as shrinkage reduction additive reaching expansion on volume after polymerization in the presence of 10 wt% of the functionalized spiroorthocarbonate. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.