CROSSLINKED COPOLYMERS: SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND PROPERTIES

JOANA TASQUE; NORMA D´ACCORSO

Mar del PLata

Congreso; XVI Simposio Latinoamericano de Polímeros. XIV Congreso Iberoamericano de Polímeros; 2018

The resistance of polymers to organic solvents, acids media and high pressure are very important to several industries, from cosmetic industries to energy applications1,2. Crosslinked copolymers have a good behavior under those conditions. Therefore, the goal of this work is the obtaining of copolymer taking into account these properties. The best way to obtain these types of polymer is a suspension polymerization, where two phases are present and the polymer chain growth in the organic phase. Spheres of different sizes are obtained depending on the drop of organic phase formed, which depends on the suspending agent, the speed of agitation, among others. An increase of the filler does not improve the mechanical properties. A decrease in mechanical strength is observed with the addition of carbon nanotubes, which could be due to its low dispersion and the formation of possible points of material ruptures.The insertion of carbon black gives the material adequate mechanical properties, resisting pressures of 10,000 psi with few fine residues, and chemical resistance to acids and organic solvents. The high glass transition temperature, added to the high decomposition temperature, are factors that indicate its high thermal resistance. All this makes possible the utlizacion of material as ultralight proppants.