Minimization of spatial inhomogeneity in polystyrene gels formed by free-radical mechanism


CERID H., Okay O.

EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL, cilt.40, sa.3, ss.579-587, 2004 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 40 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2004
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2003.10.014
  • Dergi Adı: EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.579-587
  • İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The spatial inhomogeneity in polystyrene (PS) gels has been investigated with the static light scattering technique. PS gels were prepared starting from styrene monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate crosslinker in a homogeneous solution. The gel synthesis parameters varied were the crosslinker concentration, the primary chains length and the quality of the polymerization solvent. The gels were characterized by elasticity tests as well as by light scattering measurements at a gel state just after their preparation. The degree of spatial gel inhomogeneity decreased with decreasing crosslinker content, with decreasing primary chain length or, with increasing quality of the polymerization solvent. It was shown that the gel synthesis parameters varied mainly affect the distance between the pendant vinyl groups locating on the same macromolecule during the gel formation process. Increasing the distance between the pendant vinyl groups reduces the rate of the multiple crosslinking reactions so that the resulting PS gels exhibit a lesser degree of inhomogeneity. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.