Network Formation without Vitrification Limitation:  Ring-Opening Polymerization of Sulfonium Zwitterion Monomers

Thermal cure of zwitterion monomers resulted in films having a glass transition temperature, T g, that was 75 °C higher than the cure temperature. It was concluded that zwitterion cure is not limited by vitrification. Molecular modeling of the dimer complex indicated a preferred conformation in which reactive groups on adjacent monomer molecules are situated close to each other. Absence of vitrification limitation is attributed to the possibility of reaction with very little movement. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was used to determine T g and to indicate cross-link density.