Sequential interpenetrating polymer networks: heterogeneity of the first network and final structure

✍ Scribed by J.M. Widmaier; M.T. Tabka

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1018 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-3057
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-3057(92)90124-k

✦ Synopsis

Al~tract--Various polystyrene/polybutadiene (PS/PB) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) have been prepared by a sequential process. The first-formed network was obtained by radical copolymerization of styrene with divinylbenzene under various experimental conditions. Structural differences were obtained by varying the initial concentration of the solution when forming the network and/or the amount of crosslinker. Liquid PB was crosslinked within the PS network by a hydrosilylation reaction with chloroplatinic acid as catalyst. Transmission electron microscopy has shown that the two-phase morphology of the IPN cannot be attributed to the presence of imperfections in the tridimensional structure but can be related to the apparent swelling degree of the network formed first.