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Abstract
Polymerization of phenylglycidylether (PGE) could be initiated by 1‐methylimidazole (1‐MI) and poly(N‐vinylimidazol) (PVI) in the melt to synthesize alternating polyesters composed of PGE and phthalic acid anhydride (PAA) as components. Linear chains, cross‐linked clusters, and networks were prepared with MI and comb molecules with PVI. The samples were characterized by common static and dynamic light scattering and combined SEC/LALLS/VISC analysis. The clusters from the pregel and postgel states were found to develop different internal structures with increasing network formation. The critical sol‐gel transition was studied and found to agree with percolation theory. The polymerization to comb molecules was accompanied by a partial depolymerization of PVI. The monomer VI synthesized linear polyesters, the substituents of PVI comb molecules. Both components appeared well separated in the chromatograms. The contraction of the comb dimensions is well described by star‐branch behavior with a weak tendency to ellipsoidal shapes that could be made visible by environmental scanning electron microcopy (ESEM) from films on mica.
Dedicated to Professor John L. Stanford on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
Acknowledgment
We thank Dr. Bettina Steinmann from Ciba‐Geigy for directing our interest towards this unconventional epoxy reaction and the Ciba‐Geigy Company for generous hospitality in Marly (Switzerland) of some months after a big fire in our Institute. We benefited much from discussions with Dr. Jörg Bauer Fraunhofer, Institute in Teltow. The work was kindly supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
Notes
Dedicated to Professor John L. Stanford on the occasion of his 60th birthday.