Cationic photopolymerisation of divinylethers systems containing hydroxyvinylethers

Summary Diethyleneglycoldivinylether (DVE2) and triethyleneglycoldivinylether (DVE3) were photopolymerised together with monovinylethers and hydroxyalkylvinylethers, in order to study the curing reaction and to evaluate the properties of the films obtained. In the presence of the monovinylethers, the flexibility of the cured films increased and the Tg values decreased. In the presence of a hydroxyalkylvinyl ether, a stronger plasticisation effect was obtained and attributed to a chain transfer reaction involving -OH groups. Received: 24 November 1998/Revised version: 23 April 1999/Accepted: 12 May 1999