Synthesis and properties of polyurethane/epoxy copolymers by UV curing

To improve the mechanical and thermal properties of polyurethane, two prepolymers, polyurethane acrylate (PUA) and epoxy acrylate (EPA) which have acrylate-ended groups, were synthesized. The obtained prepolymers were homogeneously mixed with various compositions and cured by UV. After UV curing, the properties of PU/EP copolymers were investigated by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, universal testing machine, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The thermal and tensile properties of PU/EP copolymers gradually increased with the amount of EP due to the intermolecular interaction whereas their elongation properties decreased. These results indicate that the copolymerization of PU with EP could control their mechanical properties.