This volume explains the theory and experimental investigations in the preparation of heterophase polymer network materials through cure reaction-induced microphase separation (CRIMPS).

It describes the synthesis of a new family of block- and graft-copolymers with controlled solubility in epoxies and characterizes CRIMPS processes using novel applications of known methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance and photochemistry. The text develops a new method for characterizing the molecular mass distribution (MMD) of linear and network polymers using thermomechanical analysis data, as well as new methods for determining internal stresses and flaw formation during thermoset curing.

The CRIMPS theory will be helpful for researchers and engineers designing and improving toughened plastics and other smart heterophase network materials for different applications. The new method for MMD characterization of polymers in bulk will be very useful to quickly analyze a polymer's MMD and to design new polymers. This book will provide a useful reference for graduates, researchers and working professionals in polymer chemistry and physics and materials science.

Contents

1. Synthesis and Characterization of Modifiers
   1. Synthesis of Well-Defined Bifunctional Oligobutadienes as Initiated by Dilithium Alkanes Soluble in Hydrocarbons
   2. Synthesis of Block Copolymers with Controlled Solubility in Epoxy Resins
   3. Universal Calibration in Gel Permeation Chromatography of Oligomers
   4. Phase Equilibrium in Binary Polymer Systems Based on Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol

2. Theory of Microphase Separation in Curing Systems
   5. Cure Reaction-Induced Microphase Separation in Multicomponent Blends: Theory of Nonequilibrium Nucleation and Growth
   6. Analytical Description of Microphase Formation in Curing Polymer Blends
   7. Two-Dimensional Model of Phase Separation During Polymerization of a Binary Polymer Blend
   8. Theory and Simulation for Dynamics of Polymerization-Induced Phase Separation in Reactive Polymer Blends
   9. Phase Diagrams of Multicomponent Reacting Polymer Systems Undergoing Phase Decomposition

3. Kinetics and Mechanism of Cure Reactions and Reaction-Induced Microphase Separation
   10. Cure Rate and CRIMPS Mechanism
   11. The Role of Intermolecular Interactions in Polyurethane Formation
   12. Formation of Spatial Dissipative Structures During Synthesis of Polyurethanes
   13. Thermoset/Thermoplastic Blends with a Crosslinked Thermoplastic Network Matrix
   14. Epoxy-Based PDLCs: Formation, Morphological and Electroptical Properties
   15. Crosslinking Studies in Rigid and Semi-Rigid Polymers
   16. Modeling Shrinkage Defect in Fiber Composites
   17. Analysis of Shrinkage Cracking in Three-Dimensionally Constrained Heterophase Network Polymers
   18. Modeling Polymer Film Formation by Spin Coating
   19. Thermal Decomposition of Thin Polyepoxide Films

4. New Approaches to Polymer Networks Characterization
   20. Characterization of Molecular Weight Distribution for Linear and Network Polymers in the Bulk
   21. Microphase Separation in Epoxies as Studied by Photoactive Probe Technique
   22. Investigation of CRIMPS by NMR
   23. CRIMPA in a Epoxy-Amine System as Studied by ESR
   24. Gelation and Reaction-Induced Microphase Separation During Cure of Model Epoxy-Amine Systems as Studied by Dielectroscopy
   25. Pulsed NQR for Measuring Internal Stresses in Polymers and Composites

Subject Index

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