Crosslink polyethylene oxide in the melt by means of 2,5-bis(tert-butylperoxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane

摘要

A new method for crosslinking polyethylene oxide (PEO) by means of a dialkyl peroxide to form a gel, which can imbibe large amounts of water. Two separate ovens were used to crosslink PEO with the peroxide. The first oven is set at 85° C. for 2.5 minutes for melting the polymer and purging oxygen with acetone vapors and forming a shield around the sample to minimize oxygen diffusion from outside, meanwhile, trapping peroxides inside. A second oven was used to thermally decompose the peroxide. The crosslinking reaction proceeds at 160° C. for 15 minutes.