Thermally reversible cross-links in a healable polymer: Estimating the quantity, rate of formation, and effect on viscosity

The conversion behavior of 2MEP4FS, a polymer with thermally reversible Diels–Alder cross-links, is modeled. A processing method is developed to create small, homogeneous prepolymer samples. The glass transition temperature of the prepolymer is estimated using temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry and equated with the conversion of the polymer. Comparing the measured energy with the literature and computational estimates, the fully cured polymer appears to have a large portion of its moieties unreacted. An autocatalytic model is considered to approximate the reaction rate of 2MEP4FS as a function of conversion and temperature. Outside of the fitted temperature range, the model underpredicts the reaction rates at room temperature and 100 °C. Manual mixing of the monomers is determined to be inadequate to obtain a maximum level of cross-linking. Viscosity measurements made at room temperature and elevated temperatures are correlated with the conversion of the prepolymer.