Premium
Polymerization of dicyclopentadiene: A new reaction injection molding system
Author(s) -
Matějka Libor,
Houtman Carl,
Macosko Christopher W.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1985.070300707
Subject(s) - dicyclopentadiene , polymerization , materials science , cationic polymerization , exothermic reaction , bulk polymerization , polymer chemistry , ring opening polymerization , polymer , monomer , chemical engineering , radical polymerization , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Dicyclopentadiene was polymerized by reaction injection molding (RIM) using a catalyst system based on WCl 6 and diethylaluminium chloride. Ring opening polymerization results in formation of a crosslinked polymer with a high crosslink density. The kinetics of the fast exothermic reaction was followed by the adiabatic temperature rise method. In addition to the “adiabatic” polymerization, isothermal reactions were carried out in a thin mold. The properties of the cured samples were determined by dynamic mechanical measurements, solgel analysis, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, DSC, and IR spectrometry. Gel fraction, glass transition temperature, content of the unreacted monomer, the modulus, and the degree of swelling were used to characterize the cured samples. The system shows very low critical conversion at the gel point (α c < 0.01) proving a chainwise mechanism of the polymerization. Possible participation of a cationic mechanism is discussed. We found the specific reaction temperature range ( T = 100–140°C) for optimum properties of the cured samples. Deterioration of properties (decrease in the crosslinking density, etc.) at a high temperature is a result of a faster deactivation of catalytic centers and a reversibility of the exothermic ring opening polymerization. Reverse cyclodegradation is preferred at a higher temperature.