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Maleimide end- capped polyether telechelics as novel toughening agents for unsaturated polyester resin

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Abstract

This paper deals with a study on toughening of an unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) using maleimide end-capped oligomers of polypropylene glycol (M-PPG), polytetramethyene oxide (M-PTMO), and polyethylene glycol (M-PEG) of varying molecular weights. These macro bismaleimides with large spacing between the functional groups were synthesized from the corresponding polyols (hydroxy telechelics) by reaction with (4-Maleimido) benzoyl chloride (MBC). These derivatives were characterised by chemical and spectral methods. These were then blended and co-cured with a UP resin based on copoly-propylene glycol (terephthalate –maleate) and relying on maleic acid–styrene copolymerisation for curing. The impacts of the nature, concentration and molecular weight of the telechelic additive on the physical and mechanical properties of the resultant unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) blends have been examined. Addition of the telechelics improved the mechanical characteristics of the crosslinked systems significantly. The improvement in fracture properties for a telecheilc was directly correlatable to a decrease in overall crosslink density estimated exprimentally as well as theoretically. The additive’s backbone structure dictated the Tg and related properties of the blend. The properties were found to be the best for the blend toughened with M-PPG with a molecular weight 2000 g/mol, at 2.5 parts per hundred parts.The morphological features at this concentration as reflected in scanning electron microscopic analyses showed descrete poly ether particles microphase separation in the UPR matrix that acted as a crack path arrester.

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The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also form part of an ongoing study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Department of Chemistry, M.E.S Mampad College, Malappuram, Kerala, 676542, India

    P. A. Jeemol

  2. School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India

    P. A. Jeemol & Suresh Mathew

  3. Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, 682 022, India

    C. P. Reghunadhan Nair

Authors
  1. P. A. Jeemol
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  2. Suresh Mathew
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  3. C. P. Reghunadhan Nair
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Correspondence to C. P. Reghunadhan Nair.

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Highlights

• Maleimide End- Capped Polyether Telechelics were successfully synthesised.

• A tough and strong resin resulted on blending and curing these telechelics with an unsaturated polyester resin.

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Jeemol, P.A., Mathew, S. & Nair, C.P.R. Maleimide end- capped polyether telechelics as novel toughening agents for unsaturated polyester resin. J Polym Res 27, 300 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-020-02197-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-020-02197-z

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