Liquid, phenylazide-end-capped copolymers of epsilon-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate: preparation, photocuring characteristics, and surface layering.

Photoreactive phenylazide-end-capped liquid copolymers were prepared by ring-opening copolymerization of epsilon-caprolactone (CL) and trimethylene carbonate (TMC) at an equimolar monomer feed ratio in the presence of a polyol, namely, a low-molecular-weight alcohol (di-, tri-, and tetraol) or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as an initiator and tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate as a catalyst, followed subsequently by phenylazide derivatization at their hydroxyl terminus. These tri- and tetrabranched liquid copolymers (precursors) with a molecular weight from approximately 2500 to 7000 g/mol were cross-linked to yield insoluble solids by ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The photocuring rate increased with increasing functionality of phenylazide and UV intensity and decreasing thickness of the liquid film of precursors.