Synergistic Effects of Phenolic Resin and Polymer Architecture on Crosslink Density and Damping in Poly(Epichlorohydrin-Co-Ethylene Oxide-Co-Allyl Glycidyl Ether) (GECO) Elastomers
Journal of Polymer Science, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1002/pola.70249
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Polymer Science
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Anahtar Kelimeler: epichlorohydrin, GECO, mechanical properties, phenolic resin
- Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Epichlorohydrin-based poly(epichlorohydrin-co-ethylene oxide-co-allyl glycidyl ether) (GECO) elastomers are widely used in applications requiring chemical resistance and vibration damping. This study investigates the combined effects of phenolic resin (PR) content and GECO molecular architecture on curing behavior, network structure, and viscoelastic performance. Four GECO elastomers with different monomer compositions, molecular weights, and branching architectures were compounded with varying amounts of novolac-type phenolic resin. Cure kinetics were evaluated by moving die rheometry (MDR), while network structure and viscoelastic behavior were characterized using rubber process analysis (RPA), temperature-scanning stress relaxation (TSSR), cyclic compression, rebound resilience, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Increasing PR content reduced torque and crosslink density, producing softer networks and enhanced energy dissipation, as evidenced by higher tan δ values, greater hysteresis losses, and lower rebound resilience. Correlation analysis demonstrated that elastic recovery is primarily governed by network density, whereas damping behavior is additionally influenced by polymer architecture. Among the investigated materials, T3108 exhibited a more elastic response, while T3100 showed a more dissipative viscoelastic character. The results demonstrate that damping performance is governed by the combined effects of network density and polymer architecture rather than resin content alone, providing a framework for designing advanced vibration-isolation elastomers.