| Abstract: | Water soluble, photocrosslinkable prepolymers were synthesized from epoxy phenolic resin (epoxy novolak resin) via ring‐opening reaction with acrylic acid, followed by ring‐opening reaction with aqueous solution of triethylamine hydrochloride. No phase transfer catalyst was needed to accelerate the second reaction, since the product formed can act as a phase transfer catalyst. The prepolymer obtained contains both photocrosslinkable acrylate groups and hydrophilic quaternary ammonium salt groups. Optimum conditions for these reactions were studied. The photosensitive properties of the prepolymer were also investigated. The effect of different photoinitiators, different crosslinkable diluent monomers and amine accelerator on the photosensitive properties of the prepolymer were compared. The photoinitiator of hydrogen abstraction type is still effective without using amine or alcohol as accelerator, because the prepolymer contains αH beside the OH groups formed in the ring‐opening reactions. |
