Photo‐curing behaviors of bio‐based isosorbide dimethacrylate by irradiation of light‐emitting diodes and the physical properties of its photo‐cured materials

Bio‐based isosorbide (1,4:3,6‐dianhydroglucitol), which was obtained from biomass‐derived carbohydrates, has recently attracted much attention as an alternative to bisphenol A (BPA) because of its rigidity and transparency. BPA is still widely used for a variety of chemical applications even though it is known to be an endocrine‐disrupting chemical. BPA is a key precursor to most photo‐curable materials ranging from encapsulants of electronic devices to dental sealants. In this study, photo‐curable isosorbide dimethacrylate (ISDM) was synthesized from bio‐based isosorbide as a substitute for BPA, and the photo‐curing behaviors of ISDM by irradiation with light‐emitting diode (LED) light were investigated. The photo‐curing conversion and rates of ISDM formation were determined based on the change in the peak corresponding to the double bond within the methacrylate groups using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy. The effects of initiators and the wavelength of LED light on the photo‐curing conversion and rates of ISDM formation were examined, and a comparative study was carried out with 2,2‐bis4(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxy‐propyloxy)phenylpropane] (Bis‐GMA), which is a photo‐curing material bearing a BPA moiety. In addition, the mechanical properties, such as surface hardness, adhesion strength, and transparency, after photo‐curing of ISDM were evaluated. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42726.