Characterization of crosslinking of random polymer network by rheological and equilibrium swelling data

Abstract

Abstract The transesterification reaction in the molten state of ester groups of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers and ethylene acrylic ester (EMA) copolymers has been used to crosslink the chains of this polymeric system. The relative EVA copolymers (or EMA copolymers) concentration dependence of the network formation by co‐crosslinking of EVA/EMA miscible blends has been assessed. EVA/EMA networks were characterized by swelling experiments, rheological measurements, and determination of the extent of the reaction through a chromatographic technique. All results can be compared in a master curve. The influence of the polydispersity and the microstructure of EVA and EMA samples was put in evidence. On the other hand, a scaling law ( v 2∼ M c −3/5 ) was observed in agreement with predictions of the Flory‐Rhener expression. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.