Development of Energy-Efficient “Cold” Curing Method for Polypropylene Glycol Fumarate Using an Optimized Initiating System

Abstract

The possibility of using the polymeric matrix obtained as a result of “cold” polymerization of polypropylene glycol fumarate (p-PGF) with methacrylic acid (MAA) as a polymeric base for obtaining new adhesives of domestic production was demonstrated. The starting reagent (p-PGF) was synthesized by condensation polymerization of fumaric acid with propylene glycol in the presence of a catalyst, which reduced the temper-ature and shortened the process time. A number of solutions of p-PGF in MAA of different mass composi-tions were obtained and their rheological properties were determined. Curing of the studied solutions was car-ried out by radical polymerization at room temperature in the presence of the “cold curing” initiating system. The optimum composition and amount of components of the “cold” curing initiating system consisting of an initiator (benzoyl peroxide) and a promoter (dimethylaniline) were established. Technological parameters of curing (temperature, lifetime and curing time, the value of volume shrinkage) were determined. The obtained compounds were identified by infrared spectroscopy. The surface morphology of the cured samples was stud-ied by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that varying the composition of the initial polymer-monomer mixture allows controlling the physicochemical properties.