In Situ Synthesis of Silver−Epoxy Nanocomposites by Photoinduced Electron Transfer and Cationic Polymerization Processes

Abstract

The in situ synthesis of silver-epoxy nano composite was described. A radical photoinitiator was used to generate electron donating radicals upon photolysis. Subsequent oxidation of these radicals to the corresponding cations in the presence of silver hexafluoroantimonate (AgSbF6) leads to the simultaneous formation of silver nanoparticles and initiation of cationic polymerization of epoxy resin, 1,3-bis(3,4-epoxycyclohexylethyl)tetramethyldisiloxane (EPOX) present in the formulation. The cured nanocomposites were characterized by FT-IR, DSC and TEM measurements