Dendrimers : Synthesis, Characterization and Use in Thiol-Ene Networks

Sammanfattning:  Dendrimers are perfectly branched, well-defined macromolecules with a layered structure and a large amount of peripheral end groups. The high functionality in combination with the possibility of dendrimers to adopt a globular shape at high molecular weights, gives them very unique properties.In this work dendrimers up to fifth generation based on 2,2-bis(methylol)propionic acid (bis-MPA) were synthesized with different core structures. The core moieties were chosen in aspects of functionality and flexibility and the impact of the core on the physical and rheological properties was studied. By using the divergent growth approach dendrimers with acetonide, hydroxyl, allyl ether and methacrylate end groups were obtained.The bulk properties of the acetonide- and hydroxyl- terminated dendrimers were investigated with a rheometer. Temperature sweep tests were performed on the acetonide protected dendrimers in a temperature range of -50 up to 120°C at a constant frequency of 1 Hz. It was observed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) increased with increasing generation and that the modulus dropped without a trace of rubbery plateau for lower generations. This lack of rubbery plateau is due to the absence of entanglements between dendrimers. Interestingly, a small rubbery plateau was visible for generation five which implies enhanced interactions between the dendrimers. This behaviour suggests to be strongly influenced by the structural collapse at higher generations. Further, frequency sweep tests were performed on hydroxyl functional dendrimers at different temperatures. The results revealed Newtonian properties for lower generations and shear-thinning behaviour for higher generations at high frequency.Furthermore, this research involves the creation of well-defined thiol-ene networks by incorporation of allyl ether or methacrylate functional dendrimers in thermosets. This was accomplished by using two trithiols of different molecular weights and react them with the enes under UV irradiation. The thiol-methacrylate crosslinking reaction resulted in inhomogeneous films with and residual unsaturations. The thiol-ene films based on allyl ether dendrimers, on the contrary, resulted in homogeneous films with intermolecular couplings between the ene and the thiol being the dominant mode of polymerization.