Silver nanoparticles formation within unsaturated polyester/styrene resins induced by UV irradiation and thermal treatment

Abstract

This article describes the formation of silver nanoparticles (NPs) within preformed unsaturated polyester/styrene resins in which the resulting color could be tuned by changing the silver load, time, and method used to grow the NPs. NP size and aggregation are responsible for the resulting sample color, and the samples present very good optical transparency. The silver ions were first added to the prepolymer that was crosslinked by free radical polymerization in the absence of light. NP formation was subsequently induced by submitting the transparent and colorless samples to heat or UV irradiation. Within the heated samples, isolated spherical particles ranging from 3 to 40 nm were observed. UV irradiation led to the formation of particle aggregates; however, as the exposure time was increased, silver NPs became well dispersed within the matrix within a particle diameter range of 9 to 24 nm. The particle formation is faster when induced by UV irradiation. Samples were also prepared by first dissolving rhodamine 6G in the resin. The emission bandwidth of samples prepared in this way showed a dependence on the silver particles amount and size. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers

Effects of UV Radiation and pH of Tannic Acid Solution in the Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles

“…This suggests that other techniques may be needed in order to shorten the synthesized time. Several researchers reported such techniques including microwave [3,6], UV radiation [7,8] and the combination of two or more techniques [9].…”

Simultaneous Photoinduced Silver Nanoparticles Formation and Cationic Polymerization of Divinyl Ethers

“…For example, several authors 20,21 have used azobis(isobutyronitrile) as the thermal initiator to form a poly(urethane acrylate-costyrene) network and silver particles. Brito-Silva et al 22 studied ABSTRACT: The cationic photopolymerization of triethylene glycol divinyl ether and concomitant formation of silver particles by the use of radical photoinitiators (BAPO and BEE) and an organosoluble silver salt (AgSbF 6 ) are reported for the first time. The rate of photopolymerization is increased with higher concentrations of BEE, but the effect of AgSbF 6 concentration is more complex.…”

“…For example, several authors , have used azobis(isobutyronitrile) as the thermal initiator to form a poly(urethane acrylate- co -styrene) network and silver particles. Brito-Silva et al studied the formation of silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate in unsaturated polyester resins that were thermally cured with methylethyl ketone peroxide. Interestingly, these systems did not form silver particles when the thermal cured at 40 °C in the dark initiator, but they did form nanoparticles when postcured to 80 °C or after UV irradiation.…”

Unsaturated Polyesters and Vinyl Esters

“…the amount of silver ions initially added and exposure time to UV irradiation). Such Ag/polymer nanocomposites are very interesting because of their special optical, electrical, and mechanical properties [98].…”