Synthesis and properties of ionic conducting crosslinked polymer and copolymer based on dimethacryloyl poly(ethylene glycol)

Synthetic conditions of α,ω-dimethacryloyl poly(polyethylene glycol) (DMPEG), such as the effects of reaction temperature, time, amount of methacryloyl chloride and catalyst on the functionality of the product were studied. The product was characterized by IR, UV and 1H NMR. DMPEG was homopolymerized in aqueous solution of LiClO4 using ammonium persulfate as initiator to form bi-ionic conducting crosslinked polymers. DMPEG was copolymerized with lithium methacrylate to form single-ionic conducting crosslinked copolymers (CCPs). The conductivities of both crosslinked polymers were compared. The conductivity of single-ionic conducting crosslinked polymers was about two orders less than that of the bi-ionic conducting CCPs at room temperature. When aqueous solution of DMPEG was polymerized in poly(diethyl siloxane) using inverse suspension polymerization technique, the suspension after azeotropic distillation with xylene can be used directly as an electrorheological (ER) fluid. The polymer particles in the ER fluid was examined with scanning electronic microscopy.