Improvement of biodegradability of UV-curable adhesives modified by a novel polyurethane acrylate

Abstract Ultraviolet (UV)-curable adhesives were prepared with a biodegradable polyurethane acrylate (BPUA) using isophoronediisocyanate, polycaprolactonediol, and hydroxyethyl acrylate via a two-step method with dibutyltindilaurate as catalyst under appropriate reaction conditions. These adhesives can be applied in liquid crystal display panels and electronic components. Biodegradability of the adhesives was examined through microbiological cultivation for potential application as environment-friendly materials. Mechanical properties of the UV-curable adhesives were measured to investigate the effects of BPUA in curing behavior. Results showed that biodegradability increased with the increasing content of BPUA. When the content of BPUA reached 55–60%, the adhesives exhibited the best adhesion strength (8.95 MPa) and gel fraction (93.04%).