Effect of the composition and chemical aging in tung oil-styrene networks: Free volume and dynamic-mechanical properties

Abstract

A study on the effect of the composition and chemical aging in tung oil-styrene networks prepared by cationic polymerization is presented. To this aim, the experimental techniques positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and dynamic-mechanical analysis were used. The representative experimental parameters were the nanohole free volume, the glass transition temperature and the dynamic mechanical properties, storage and loss moduli and tan δ. The results obtained were discussed in terms of the structure of the formed network, in particular to the packing of the molecular segments and the presence of dangling chains derived from the tung oil. In the case of aged samples the results were interpreted in terms of the oxidative polymerization and degradative processes in the copolymers studied.