ISSN:
0021-8995
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Physics
Notes:
A calorimetric study for estimating crosslinking densities of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) networks is presented. It involves the experimental determination of the heat capacities of the polymer with (Cip) and without (C0p) crosslinking. The theoretical basis of the method is described as well as the procedure used for the determination of the Cps. The crosslinking densities of PDMS networks, determined by absorbency (swelling) measurments, using the Flory-Rehner equation, and by the method described here, are compared. The PDMS, obtained by the anionic synthesis of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, was analyzed by gel permeation chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. Separate samples of the polymer were further crosslinked at different network densities. The Cps and the thermal stabilities were determined by DSC and TGA, respectively. The results indicate that the crosslinking density ratios of the polymer networks calculated by the relation ΔCip/C0p are in reasonable agreement with those obtained from absorbency measurements. The crosslinking density can also be obtained from heat capacity measurments if the density of the network is known at the temperature that ΔCp is obtained. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Additional Material:
5 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.1995.070550905
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