Effect of molecular and structural architecture of poly(epichlorohydrin-co-ethylene oxide-co-allyl glycidyl ether) on the properties of its elastomers

Poly(epichlorohydrin-co-ethylene oxide-co-allyl glycidyl ether) (GECO) elastomers have gained importance in recent years thanks to improved synthesis methods. The effect of curing agents, fillers, and ionizing radiation on the mechanical properties of GECO elastomers has been studied in detail, however, the effect of the molecular and structural architecture of GECO on their elastomers' properties is not well studied. The main aim of this study was to prepare GECO elastomers with a certain recipe and to examine the effects of molecular and structural parameters of these polymers on the cure characteristics, mechanical properties, temperature scanning stress relaxation, and damping properties. The results showed that among the three monomers, the ethylene oxide ratio was the more important parameter affecting the cure characteristics and cure degree of GECO elastomers. It was also observed that the energy absorption and damping properties vary with the ethylene oxide ratio, crosslink density, and long chain branching. The temperature scanning stress relaxation behavior of GECO elastomers was observed to have almost the same relative behavior, regardless of crosslink density and branching. The results suggest that the temperature-induced relaxation behavior does not change with the type and ratio of the monomers that make up the GECO.