VINYL-TERMINATED OLIGOMERIC ETHERS - A STUDY OF THE CROSS-LINKING PROCESS

A thermosetting resin consisting of a mixture of vinyl‐terminated oligomeric ethers was prepared by a two‐step synthesis. This required the reaction of 1,4‐bis (chloromethyl) benzene with the potassium salt of bisphenol A, and subsequent vinylation of the chloromethyl end groups by means of a Wittig reaction. The linear vinyl prepolymers were thermally crosslinked through their reactive styryl end groups (without the addition of catalyst) to produce castings and woven glass laminates. A study of the crosslinking process was carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The water absorption and the thermooxidative stability of the crosslinked polymer were investigated. A styrene solution of the oligomeric ethers was also crosslinked, using benzoyl peroxide as a catalyst. The moisture absorption characteristics of the crosslinked styrene copolymer were compared with those of the crosslinked homopolymer. Both substances showed hydrophobic character. Copyright © 1991 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.