STUDY OF CROSS-LINKING COPOLYMERIZATION AND ITS FRACTAL BEHAVIOR OF STYRENE-DIVINYLBENZENE

The crosslinking copolymerization of styrene-divinylbenzene (DVB) with 6% (W/W) DVB was investigated quantitatively by liquid chromatography (LC), viscosity, GPC, and static and dynamic laser light. Through the se experiments, reaction order, mechanism, and evolution of molecular weight, size, polydispersity, and branching of the copolymer chains du ring the gelation were measured. The critical exponents gamma, beta, d elta, tau, and nu(p) of the gelation were calculated. Furthermore, fra ctal behavior of the copolymer was evidenced firmly; the progression o f fractal dimensions of these species following the gelation were also obtained using the dependence of intensity scattered on angles by syn chrotron small angle X-ray scattering. A methodology for characterizat ion of gelation forming network polymer is provided objectively. (C) 1 998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.