Systematic tailoring of water absorption in photopolymerizable (meth)acrylate networks and its effect on mechanical properties

摘要

Photopolymerisable (meth)acrylate-based polymer systems have attracted significant interest in the biomedical field, for example dental fillings and bone cement, where fast curing in vivo is important. The thermomechanical properties of the (meth)acrylate networks can be modified by adjusting the copolymer composition and choice of monomer units. The mechanical properties of the copolymer network are also affected by the environment temperature and by immersion in phosphate buffered solution (PBS). Maximum toughness and failure strain can be achieved by adjusting the copolymer composition to give a Tg just above body temperature. The effect of PBS immersion on mechanical properties is known to be related to the initial viscoelastic state of the cured network: peak toughness will shift to lower temperature under aqueous conditions (ie Tg decreases due to water absorption).