Copolymerization behavior and properties of dimethacrylate-styrene networks

Dimethacrylate oligomers diluted with styrene (commonly known as vinyl ester resins) are important matrix resins for fiber-reinforced composites used in construction, marine craft, and transportation vehicles. These comonomers react via free radical copolymerization to yield void-free thermosets. The inter-relationships among copolymerization kinetics, physical properties of the networks, and cure temperatures for a 700 g/mol dimethacrylate oligomer with systematically varied styrene concentrations were investigated. FTIR was used to monitor the reactions of the carbon-carbon double bonds of the methacrylate (943 cm⁻¹) and styrene (910 cm⁻¹). Reactivity ratios were determined via a non-linear method at four cure temperatures. The data were analyzed using the integrated form of the copolymerization equation and assuming a terminal reactivity model to predict copolymer compositions throughout the reactions. The results indicated that at early conversion more styrene was incorporated into the networks at lower cure temperatures. The experimental vinyl ester-styrene network compositions agreed well with those predicted by the integrated copolymer equation at early and intermediate conversion. Mechanical properties of dimethacrylate-styrene networks were determined for materials cured at room temperature and at 140 °C. Materials cured at room temperature were tougher and had lower rubbery moduli than those cured at 140 °C.