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Updated: Oct 3, 2025

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
Published on: September 26, 2016
In Situ Characterization of the Reaction-Diffusion Behavior during the Gradient Interphase Formation of
Lucian Zweifel1, Christian Brauner1, Julie Teuwen2
1Institute of Polymer Engineering, FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Klosterzelgstrasse 2, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland.
Abstract:
This study presents two novel methods for in situ characterization of the reaction-diffusion process during the co-curing of a polyetherimide thermoplastic interlayer with an epoxy-amine thermoset. The first method was based on hot stage experiments using a computer vision point tracker algorithm to detect and trace diffusion fronts, and the second method used space- and time-resolved Raman spectroscopy. Both approaches provided essential information, e.g., type of transport phenomena and diffusion rate. They can also be combined and serve to elucidate phenomena occurring during diffusion up to phase separation of the gradient interphase between the epoxy system and the thermoplastic. Accordingly, it was possible to distinguish reaction-diffusion mechanisms, describe the diffusivity of the present system and evaluate the usability of the above-mentioned methods.
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