What are some good polymerization chemistry experiment ideas

[Sam Donovan]

I'm very interested in researching polymerization chemistry for my school science fair.
All the ideas I have are either too expensive or not complex enough.

 

[Bystander]

What have you considered?

 

[Sam Donovan]

What have you considered?

I've been focused on epoxy resins:

I thought about testing epoxy resins and how varying hardeners (mainly focused on amines: primary amines, tertiary amines, aliphatic,etc) affect "cure time" and relative strengths (this is too expensive).

I thought about an experiment about esterification of epoxy resins. (I'm not sure what my dependent variable, like what's a good thing to solve)

I thought about simulating or modeling the cross-linking caused by epoxy resin and a "curing agent"

 

[Bystander]

Are you familiar with the various "classes" of polymerization reactions?

my dependent variable, l

Chain length?

 

[Sam Donovan]

Are you familiar with the various "classes" of polymerization reactions?
Chain length?

No, not familiar.

How would you use chain length?

 

[Bystander]

Look at melting points or densities as functions of chain length.

 

[Kevin McHugh]

Look at melting points or densities as functions of chain length.

Melt point of polymers is a function of crystallinity, not molecular weight. Density too is a function of crystallinity. Molecular weight is a function of chain length and its distribution.

 

[Kevin McHugh]

A good example of a cross linking reaction is body filler and hardening agent. Inexpensive and sets up quick. You ca even mold it into shapes before it hardens. Available at Wal Mart and auto parts stores everywhere. Another example is Durham's wood putty. Cross links with water.