MICROGEL FORMATION IN THE FREE-RADICAL CROSS-LINKING COPOLYMERIZATIONOF METHYL-METHACRYLATE (MMA) AND ETHYLENE-GLYCOL DIMETHACRYLATE (EGDMA)

The formation of heterogeneous structure through intramolecular reacti on is an important feature of the free radical cross-linking copolymer ization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylat e (EGDMA). Such structure formation affects not only the curing behavi or but also the rheological changes of the resin. In this study, the r eaction kinetics, rheological changes, and the size distribution of fo rmed polymers are measured by differential scanning calorimetry, rheom etry, dynamic light scattering goniometry, and gel permeation chromato graphy. A 3-D percolation model is developed to simulate this monoviny l and divinyl copolymerization system. The simulation results agree we ll with the experimental observations qualitatively.