VISCOELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF POLY(CYANATE EPOXY)

The viscoelastic behavior of poly(cyanate epoxy) has been investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis and thermostimulated creep. First, the coherence of both sets of data has been shown. The analysis of the fi ne structure of the low temperature retardation mode has revealed the existence of four cooperative sub modes. The high temperature retardat ion mode corresponds to the anelastic manifestation of the glass trans ition. The elementary processes constituting this mode are characteriz ed by retardation times following a compensation law with a compensati on temperature T-c similar to T-g + 60 degrees. The broad range of act ivation enthalpies reveals that cooperative movements are highly deloc alized. The compensation parameters together with the range of activat ion enthalpy define the microstructure of poly(cyanate epoxy) and allo w us to follow its relationship with the viscoelastic behavior.