Rheological behavior and thermomechanical properties of polyethylene-Glycidyl methacrylate vitrimers utilizing disulfide exchange

Four vitrimers were made using polyethylene - glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (PE-GMA) and 3,3 ' - dithiodipropionic acid (DTDPA) using a two-step procedure. The amount of DTDPA added was varied, and therefore, the crosslink density was also varied. Rheological experiments were performed. The vitrimers exhibit different rheological behavior depending on the angular frequency applied, which most likely stems from the presence of a crosslinked network. Additionally, there appears to be an on-going reaction occurring during rheological tests, all of which occur above the melting temperature. Thermal and mechanical tests were also conducted. Thermomechanical testing determined that increasing crosslink density resulted in a decrease in the yield strength.