Rheological behaviour during UV-curing of a star-branched polyester

Using a rheometer coupled with an UV-light generator, the viscoelastic behaviour during the fast cure of star-branched polyester is investigated. The 32 arm star polymers consist of a hyperbranched polyester core, Boltorn(TM) and linear grafts of poly(E-caprolactone) (degree of polymerisation: 20-52) with methacrylate end groups. The resins are crystalline and the melting points range from 34 to 50degreesC; films can be formed and cured below 80degreesC. The crossover of G' and G was used as the gel point. The time to reach the gel point, a few seconds, increases linearly with molecular weight. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.