Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Publication Date

7-31-1975

Abstract

The aqueous modification of polyol modified anhydride cured diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A exhibits properties of a brittle solid when subjected to an impulse stress, and properties of a viscous fluid when subjected to a steady state stress. This behavior is markedly different from the nonaqueous system. Early attempts to understand the nature of the change in properties and the physical mechanism involved have not been completely successful. These attempts have typically taken a physical chemistry approach and have not fully investigated the organic nature of the polymer. In order to fully understand a polymer system an important step should be to identify the composition and structure of the polymer.

Previous studies of the aqueous modification of polyol modified anhydride cured diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A have verified that the water significantly accelerates the anhydride ring opening reaction compared to the nonaqueous system. It had been postulated that the accelerated ring opening reaction facilitated the formation of a non­crosslinked low molecular weight polymer. In an attempt to confirm this hypothesis, the elucidation of the structure was undertaken.

High speed gel permeation chromatography indicated two things: (1) the material is noncrosslinked because it dissolves in solvent, and (2) the highest molecular weight material formed is approximately 2500. The material was shown to be composed of eight components. The three smallest components were shown to be unreacted starting materials and were only 4% of the overall system. The molecular weight range of the five remaining components is 500-2400, with 80% of the material being of an average molecular weight of 1900.

The five remaining components have been identified by the use of infrared analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Verification of the structures was accomplished via saponification of the products and identification of the fragments.

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Chemistry

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Eleftherios Paul Papadopoulos

Second Committee Member

Guido Herman Daub

Third Committee Member

D. R. Anderson

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