The influence of cross-linking agents on ring-opening metathesis polymerized thermosets

The addition of suitable cross-linking agents with norbornene-based monomers has significant effects on the thermal properties of the resulting polymers formed by olefin metathesis. Ethylidene norbornene (ENB) and endo-dicyclopentadiene (endo-DCPD) were mixed separately with various loadings of three different cross-linking agents and then polymerized with the addition of Grubbs' catalyst. The polymerization kinetics and resulting glass transition temperature (T-g) of the systems were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The addition of the first cross-linking agent, norbornadiene (CL-1), to both endo-DCPD and ENB resulted in decreasing glass transition temperatures with increasing concentrations. In contrast, the addition of the other two cross-linking agents (CL-2 and CL-3), which were both custom synthesized bifunctional norbornyl systems, to both endo-DCPD and ENB resulted in a monotonic increases in T-g with cross-linker concentration. By tailoring the loading of these custom cross-linking agents, the properties of these polymer systems can be controlled for various applications, including self-healing composites.