Thermoset and coatings technology: The challenge of interdisciplinary chemistry

Modem thermoset and coatings technologies provide the challenge of combining in situ polymer synthesis and processing with the task of characterizing an insoluble, intractable product. During the last dozen years several tools have been developed in J. K. Gillham's Princeton Laboratory which provide insight into this complex interrelationship. Although not necessarily conceived exclusively for thermoset characterization, these tools have been found to be uniquely suited to the task. To be discussed are the application of the torsional braid analyzer, a programmable pyrolyzer and thermal analysis to the study of coatings and thermosets in general. Also included is a discussion of a time‐temperature phase diagram for the thermoset analysis and the study of the formation of spiral and helical cracks in reinforced thermosets.