Prediction of Physical Properties of Dimethacrylate Polymer Networks by a Group Contribution Approach

In this work, the correlation between experimental and theoretical values of density (ρ) and glass transition temperature (T _g ) of dimethacrylate polymer networks is elaborated. The developed methodologies are based on the additive principle of the known monomer chemical structures. The predicted values of ρ differed by a maximum of 1% from the experimental values. The methodology developed for T _g prediction is based on the assumption that dimethacrylate structural units are treated as main chains between ?CH₂C(CH₃)? tri-functional volumeless cross-links. Three-quarters of the calculated T _g values differed less than 20 K from the experimental ones.