Vulcanization and crosslinking of linear polydicyclopentadiene

Crosslinked polymers possess better physico-mechanical properties as compar ed to the initially linear polymers because the slide between the macromole cular chains diminishes. The crosslinking effect on the properties of the p olymer depends on the degree of crosslinking, the molecular weight of the p olymer prior to crosslinking, the regularity of the formed network, the pre sence or the absence of crystallinity in the Initial polymer. This paper st udies the vulcanization (crosslinking) of linear polydicyclopentadiene, a h ighly unsaturated polymer, using as crosslinking agents S + accelerators an d Lewis acids (WCl6 + CH3OH). Some physico-mechanical properties of the pol ymer, before and after crosslinking, were determined. The crosslinking mech anism when Lewis acids are used as crosslinking agents was elucidated.