Network formation studies

Synthesis of Functional Oligomers and Network Formation Studies... 

Riffle, J. S. Yilgor, I. Tran, C. Wilkes, G. L. Mcgrath, J. E. Bantia, A. K. Elastomeric Polysiloxane Modifiers for Epoxy Networks. Synthesis of Functional Oligomers and Network Formation Studies Epoxy Resin Chemistry II , ACS Symp. Sen, 1983, ,2i,... 

Riffle JS, Yilgor I, Tran C et al (1983) Elastomeric polysiloxane modifiers for epoxy network -synthesis of fimctional oligomers and network formation studies. ACS Symp Ser 221 21-54 Risse S, Kussmaul B, BCriiger H et al (2012) Synergistic improvement of actuation properties with compatibilized high permittivity filler. Adv Funct Mater 22 3958-3962 Romasanta LJ, Leret P, Casaban L et al (2012) Towards materials with enhanced electro-meehanical response CaCu3Ti40i2-polydimethylsiloxane composites. J Mater Chem 22 24705-24712 Rosset S, Shea HR (2013) Flexible and stretchable electrodes for dielectric elastomer actuators. Appl Phys A Mater Sci Proeess 110 281-307... 

In this study computational results are presented for a six-component, three-stage process of copolymerization and network formation, based on the stochastic theory of branching processes using probability generating functions and cascade substitutions (11,12). 

Chain-growth polymerizations are diffusion controlled in bulk polymerizations. This is expected to occur rapidly, even prior to network development in step-growth mechanisms. Traditionally, rate constants are expressed in terms of viscosity. In dilute solutions, viscosity is proportional to molecular weight to a power that lies between 0.6 and 0.8 (22). Melt viscosity is more complex (23) Below a critical value for the number of atoms per chain, viscosity correlates to the 1.75 power. Above this critical value, the power is nearly 3 4 for a number of thermoplastics at low shear rates. In thermosets, as the extent of conversion reaches gellation, the viscosity asymptotically increases. However, if network formation is restricted to tightly crosslinked, localized regions, viscosity may not be appreciably affected. In the current study, an exponential function of degree of polymerization was selected as a first estimate of the rate dependency on viscosity. 

The deformation of polymer chains in stretched and swollen networks can be investigated by SANS, A few such studies have been carried out, and some theoretical results based on Gaussian models of networks have been presented. The possible defects in network formation may invalidate an otherwise well planned experiment, and because of this uncertainty, conclusions based on current experiments must be viewed as tentative. It is also true that theoretical calculations have been restricted thus far to only a few simple models of an elastomeric network. An appropriate method of calculation for trapped entanglements has not been constructed, nor has any calculation of the SANS pattern of a network which is constrained according to the reptation models of de Gennes (24) or Doi-Edwards (25,26) appeared. 

In summary, the rheological studies of PATE are consistent with a proposed molecular association model for PATE solutions. Kinematic viscosity evaluation shows that at concentrations of 15% to 20% solids, a gelatinous solution results. The apparent viscosity measurements illustrate that network formation can be overcome by heating indicating that the association is electrostatic in nature. 

Several applications of hyperbranched polymers as precursors for synthesis of crosslinked materials have been reported [91-97] but systematic studies of crosslinking kinetics, gelation, network formation and network properties are still missing. These studies include application of hyperbranched aliphatic polyesters as hydroxy group containing precursors in alkyd resins by which the hardness of alkyd films was improved [94], Several studies involved the modification of hyperbranched polyesters to introduce polymerizable unsaturated C=C double bonds (maleate or acrylic groups). A crosslinked network was formed by free-radical homopolymerization or copolymerization. 

The reactions of intramolecular cross-linking is a rather poorly investigated area in the field of macro-molecular reactions. However, the problems of regularities of such processes are related to such important problems of polymer chemistry as chemical modification of polymers, networks formation, sorption of low molecular reagents by polymers, intramolecular catalysis, conformational transitions and so on. In spite of the great importance of the study of regularities of cross-linking reactions, the experimental and theoretical analysis of such processes is complicated by many difficulties. ... 

The determination of the kinetic regularities for different systems is important in the first turn for understandina of the process of the networks formation and for the study of sol and gel properties. On the other hand, the solution of the kinetic problem is of the great importance from the viewpoint of the further development of the general theory of macromole-cular reactions. 

One alternative is to select precursors which form a gas as a reaction product in situ during the network formation of thermosets. However this approach is restricted to a very limited number of precursors reacting via a polycondensation mechanism to split off a gas. For example, flexible polyurethane foams are commercially produced using CO2 that is liberated as a reaction product of the isocyanate monomer with water [5]. Very recently, Macosko and coworkers studied the macroscopic cell opening mechanism in polyurethane foams and unraveled a microphase separation occurring in the cell walls. This leads to nanosized domains, which are considered as hard segments and responsible for a rise in modulus after the cell opening [6]. 

However, in doing so one tests two theories the network formation theory and the rubber elasticity theory and there are at present deeper uncertainties in the latter than in the former. Many attempts to analyze the validity of the rubber elasticity theories were in the past based on the assumption of ideality of networks prepared usually by endllnklng. The ideal state can be approached but never reached experimentally and small deviations may have a considerable effect on the concentration of elastically active chains (EANC) and thus on the equilibrium modulus. The main issue of the rubber elasticity studies is to find which theory fits the experimental data best. This problem goes far beyond the network... 

Network formation by photopolymerization has been studied for tetraethyleneglycol diacrylate (TEGDA) using isothermal calorimetry (DSC), isothermal shrinkage measurement and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Due to vitrification the polymerization does not go to completion at room temperature. The ultimate conversion as measured by DSC seems to depend on light intensity. This can be explained by the observed delay of shrinkage with respect to conversion. 

Having discussed self-assembly strategies toward noncovalently functionalized side chain supramolecular polymers as well as studies toward the orthogonahty of using multiple noncovalent interactions in the same system, this section presents some of the potential applications of these systems as reported in the literature. The apphcations based on these systems can be broadly classified into two areas 1) self-assembled functional materials and 2) functionalized reversible network formation. 

In accordance with theoretical predictions of the dynamic properties of networks, the critical concentration of dextran appears to be independent of the molecular weight of the flexible polymeric diffusant although some differences are noted when the behaviour of the flexible polymers used is compared e.g. the critical dextran concentrations are lower for PEG than for PVP and PVA. For ternary polymer systems, as studied here, the requirement of a critical concentration that corresponds to the molecular dimensions of the dextran matrix is an experimental feature which appears to be critical for the onset of rapid polymer transport. It is noteworthy that an unambiguous experimental identification of a critical concentration associated with the transport of these types of polymers in solution in relation to the onset of polymer network formation has not been reported so far. Indeed, our studies on the diffusion of dextran in binary (polymer/solvent) systems demonstrated that both its mutual and intradiffusion coefficients vary continuously with increasing concentration 2. ... 

Curing Agents for Carboxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene Prepolymers. The types of curing agents used to prepare binders for CTPB propellants are the same as those for PBAN or PBAA. The bifunctionality of CTPB, however, requires that part of the curing agents be polyfunctional to provide for the formation of the tridimensional network. Almost without exception, the polyfunctional aziridines and epoxides used with CTPB undergo side reactions in the presence of ammonium perchlorate, which affects the binder network formation. Kinetic studies conducted with model compounds have established the nature and extent of the cure interference by these side reactions. The types and properties of some of the crosslinkers and chain extenders used to prepare solid propellants are summarized in Table IV. 

Low-molecular-weight model compounds such as phenylglycidyl or other mono-glycidyl ethers as well as primary, secondary and tertiary amines have been used for the study of the kinetics, thermodynamics and mechanism of curing. To reveal the kinetic features of network formation, results of studies of the real epoxy-amine systems have also been considered. Another problem under discussion is the effect of the kinetic peculiarities of formation of the epoxy-amine polymers on their structure and properties. 

A key problem in the kinetics of the reactions under study is a relation between the rate constants of the epoxy ring opening under the effect of the primary and secondary amino groups, i.e. manifestation of the substitution effect. This problem has been briefly reviewed by Dusek64>. Knowledge of the relationship between these rate constants is very important for an adequate description of the kinetics of network formation. It should be emphasized that knowledge of such a relation, rather than the absolute values of the rate constants would be sufficient. 

It is the opinion of the present authors that frequently too much emphasis is placed in network studies on the influence of network defects (Chapter II, Section 2), while in reality pre-existing order, inhomogeneous crosslinking, composite network formation, or microsyneresis may play an important role in the mechanical behaviour, as well as in most other network properties. Examples of this will be given in Chapter IV. 

In the past the study of polymer networks has been undertaken along three separate lines, viz. from the point of view of network formation, the structure, and the elastic behaviour. 

The accumulation of structural information regarding a network is not an easy task. Direct measurements through optical techniques are often open to various interpretations. Also, their resolving power with respect to factors, important in elasticity, (as, for example, network chain length distribution) is often insufficient. It is, therefore, necessary to obtain structural information through studies of the network formation processes (Chapter II). 

The epoxy/siloxane/PACM-20 mixture was poured into a hot (120 °C) RTV-silicone mold of the precise shapes to be used for solid-state testing. The mixture was cured at 160 °C for 2.5 hours. The curing time and temperature chosen were considered to provide enough mobility for network formation. This conclusion was partially based on earlier studies which found a glass transition temperature of 150 °C for Epon 828/PACM-20 3S). 

The importance of crosslinked polymers, since the discovery of cured phenolic formaldehyde resins and vulcanized rubber, has significantly grown. Simultaneously, the understanding of the mechanism of network formation, the chemical structure of crosslinked systems and the motional properties at the molecular level, which are responsible for the macroscopic physical and mechanical properties, did not accompany the rapid growth of their commercial production. The insolubility of polymer networks made impossible the structural analysis by NMR techniques, although some studies had been made on the swollen crosslinked polymers. 

Spin-spin relaxation times (T2) in polymer systems range from about 10-5 s for the rigid lattice (glassy polymers) to a value greater than 10-3 s for the rubbery or viscoelastic state. In the temperature region below the glass transition, T2 is temperature independent and not sensitive to the motional processes, because of the static dipolar interactions. The temperature dependence of T2 above Tg and its sensitivity to low-frequency motions, which are strongly affected by the network formation, make spin-spin relaxation studies suitable for polymer network studies. 

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