Abstract
This article describes the synthesis and characterization of a series of poly(propylene glycol bismaleimide) (PPGM) with molecular weights (Mws) in the range of 390–2 600 g mol1. Their photopolymerization rates without photoiniator were similar to that of an acrylate resin in the presence of a photoinitiator. The reactivities and degrees of conversion of these PPGM oligomers, thermal and mechanical properties of the resulting materials were studied as a function of Mw. Rigid materials were obtained except for that containing the longest PPGM, which exhibited mechanical properties of a rubber. The glass transition temperature values and the thermal stability were found to decrease when Mw of used oligomers was increased. Crosslinking density was the parameter that controlled both mechanical and thermal properties.