Interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(carbonate-urethane) and polystyrene

Simultaneous two-component interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN's), pseudo IPN's, and linear blends of urethane-containing aliphatic polycarbonate (PCU) and polystyrene (PS) have been synthesized and characterized. The simultaneous full IPN's of PCU and PS had one T_g only at compositions above 50 wt % PCU, as determined by DSC and DMA. The single phase morphology in the one T_g region was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, the pseudo IPN's and linear blends of PCU and PS exhibited multiple (melting and glass) transitions by DSC measurements and phase separation was observed by TEM over the whole composition range. The full IPN's exhibited a maximum in ultimate mechanical properties at an intermediate composition. Superior solvent resistance as well as better thermal stability was shown by the IPN's as compared to the pseudo IPN's linear blends, and pure crosslinked components.     

Interpenetrating polymer networks of polycarbonate-urethane and polybutadiene

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN's), pseudo IPN's and linear blends of urethane-containing aliphatic polycarbonate (PCU) and polybutadiene (PB) have been prepared and characterized. The simultaneous full IPN's of PCU and PB over the whole composition range (15-85% by weight PCU) exhibit a single phase morphology even though the linear chain blends are completely immiscible, as determined by DSC and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, in both pseudo IPN's of PCU and PB there appeared multiple (melting and glass) transitions in DSC measurements and phase separation was observed by TEM. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(carbonate-urethane) and polymethyl methacrylate

We report the synthesis and characterization of interpentrating polymer networks (IPN's), pseudo INPN's, and blends of urethane-containing aliphatic polycarbonates (PCU) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The simultaneous full IPN's of PCU's and PMMA over the whole composition range have only one T_g, as determined by DSC and DMA which, together with transmission electron microscopy observations, suggest a single phase morphology even though the linear chain blends are completely immiscible. The full IPN's exhibit a maximum tensile strength at a certain composition, and superior solvent and heat resistance as compared to the pseudo IPN's, linear blends, and the pure crosslinked PCU's and PMMA.     

Graft copolymer of polymethyl methacrylate-g-polycarbonate urethane and the fully gelled grafted networks

We have synthesized and characterized the graft copolymer of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-graft-polycarbonate urethane (PCU) (designated PMMA-g-PCU) and the fully gelled mutually crosslinked network composed of both PMMA and PCU (designated as PMMA-PCU-N). Unlike the previously synthesized one phase PCU/PMMA simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN's), both of these new materials exhibited two distinct T_g's (from DSC and DMA studies) at all compositions which we have studied. The two-phase nature of the graft and network polymer was confirmed by TEM with domain sizes smaller than those found in the blends of the linear PCU and PMMA chains. In comparison with the corresponding IPN's, the PMMA-g-PCU and the PMMA-PCU-N were thermally less stable and had a lower ultimate strength. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Interpenetrating polymer networks based on poly(chloroprene) and poly(carbonate-urethane)

Simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks (SIN's) of poly(chloroprene) (CR) and poly(carbonate-urethane) (PCU) were prepared and characterized. The effect of composition on the phase morphology of full IPN's of CR/PCU has been studied by DSC and SEM. A single phase morphology of IPN's has achieved when the content of CR component is below 50 wt %. The microphase separation of the component networks in the IPN's occurred in samples whose weight percentage of the CR component was 50% and higher. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pseudo interpenetrating polymer networks and interpenetrating polymer networks of zeolite 13 X and polystyrene and poly(ethyl acrylate)

Free-radical polymerization of liquid styrene and ethyl acrylate with or without ethylene dimethacrylate crosslinker in the presence of zeolite 13 X produces interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN's) or pseudo IPN's in which polymer chains have grown and filled internal pores of the zeolite. A variety of methods of characterization including, solubility studies, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ¹³C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) provide supporting evidence for this. The polymer chains within the internal pores do not exhibit a bulk glass transition. This is part of a larger study of the glass transition of polymers confined to cavities or pores of various sizes.     

Electrically conductive pseudo IPNs of linear poly(carbonate-urethane) and crosslinked polychloroprene

A number of pseudo IPNs of poly(carbonate-urethane) (PCU) and crosslinked polychloroprene (CR) have been synthesized and characterized. The single phase morphology of these novel pseudo IPNs has been confirmed by DSC measurements and electron microscopy. The room temperature electrical conductives of homopolymers and pseudo IPNs have been investigated for both undoped and iodine-doped samples. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Interpenetrating polymer networks from castor oil-based polyurethanes and poly(methyl methacrylate). V

Castor oil is reacted with hexamethylene diisocyanate under different experimental conditions varying the NCO/OH ratio to yield liquid prepolyurethanes (PPU's). All these polyurethanes were interpenetrated with methyl methacrylate (MMA) and a crosslinker EGDM by radical polymerization initiated by benzoyl peroxide. The novel PPU/MMA interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN's) were obtained as tough films by transfer molding. The characterization of these IPN's includes resistance to chemical reagents, thermal behavior (DSC, TGA), and the mechanical properties, namely, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, elongation at break (%), and hardness. The morphological behavior (SEM) and dielectrical properties such as electrical conductivity, dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″), and loss tangent (tan δ) were estimated.     

Interpenetrating networks of conjugated ionic polyacetylenes

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) based on poly(N-butyl 2-ethynylpyridinum bromide) (PB2EPB) and polycarbonate-urethane (PCU) has been prepared and characterized. The simultaneous full IPNs of PCU and PB2EPB have two glass transition temperatures corresponding to those of the linear chain blends measured by DSC. This suggests immiscibility of the two networks in the IPNs. The IPNs display a multiphase morphology which is confirmed by SEM observation. The full IPNs exhibit excellent solvent resistance, good thermal stability and good mechanical properties. High UV absorption of these materials extending to the visible range and beyond indicates that the polyacetylene network is extensively conjugated. The electrical conductivity of the IPNs increases linearly with increasing polyacetylene content reaching 10^-4 S/cm. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Specific interactions and phase behavior of ternary poly(2‐vinylpyridine)/poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone)/bisphenol A blends

Hydrogen‐bonding interactions between bisphenol A (BPA) and two proton‐accepting polymers, poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VPy) and poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) (PVP), were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The Flory–Huggins interaction‐energy densities of BPA/P2VPy and BPA/PVP blends were determined by the melting point depression method. The interaction parameters for both BPA/P2VPy and BPA/PVP blend systems were negative, demonstrating the miscibility of BPA with P2VPy as well as PVP. The miscibility of ternary BPA/P2VPy/PVP blends was examined by DSC, optical observation, and solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The experimental phase behavior of the ternary blend system agreed with the spinodal phase‐separation boundary calculated using the determined interaction‐energy densities. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1125–1134, 2002     

Morphology-shrinkage relationships in semi-crystalline polymers. Epitaxy,a way of eliminating amorphous contribution

A new approach for achieving a highly dimensionally stable film of semi-crystalline polymers via blending is demonstrated. To illustrate this approach, a model system, polyethylene-polypropylene is investigated using TEM, TMA, DSC, and DMA. It is shown that epitaxial growth in polymer blends and laminates can induce a cross-hatch morphology which eliminates or reduces the contribution of an oriented amorphous phase. This ultimately leads to greater dimensional stability and synergism in mechanical properties as well. The presence of an appropriate low-melting component can also be used to reduce shrinkage.     

Miscibility and orientation behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) / poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends

The miscibility of poly(viny1 alcohol)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVA/PVP) blends is investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD). The molecular orientation induced by uniaxial stretching of the blends is also examined by WAXD and birefringence measurements. It is shown by the DSC thermal analysis that the polymer pair is miscible, since a single glass transition temperature (T_g) is situated between the T_gs of the two homopolymers at every composition. The T_g versus composition curve does not follow a monotonic function but exhibits a cusp point at a PVP volume fraction of a little under 0.7, as in a case predicted by Kovacs' theory. The presence of a specific intermolecular interaction between the two polymers is suggested by an observed systematic depression in the melting point of the PVA component. A negative value of the polymer-polymer interaction parameter, χ₁₂ = 0.35 (at 513 K), is estimated from a thermodynamic approach via a control experiment using samples crystallized isothermally at various temperatures. The extent of optical birefringence (Δn) of the drawn blends decreases drastically with increasing PVP content up to 80 wt %, when compared at a given draw ratio, and ultimately Δn is found to change from positive to negative at a critical PVP concentration of a little over 80 wt %. Discussion of the molecular orientation behavior takes into consideration a birefringence compensation effect in the miscible amorphous phase due to positive and negative contributions of oriented PVA and PVP, respectively.     

一种加成固化型热固性树脂PN-PAA固化过程和热稳定性研究

研究了炔丙基醚化酚醛树脂(PN)与聚芳基乙炔树脂(PAA)的反应性共混物(以下简称PN-PAA共混树脂)的相容性,并对共混树脂的固化过程和固化物的耐热性进行了表征.相态、DSC、SEM、TEM等测试结果均表明共混树脂及其固化物是完全相容的均相体系.凝胶时间、粘度、DSC等结果表明共混树脂固化工艺性优良,适合多种成型工艺(如RTM),显著改善了PAA树脂的固化工艺缺陷.DMA、TGA等分析表明共混树脂固化物具有很高的耐热性,可作为新型的防热复合材料和高温结构材料的基体.     

PVC/ACR共混物微观结构与性能

本文研究了聚氯乙烯/丙烯酸酯类共聚物(PVC/ACR)共混物的应力-应变行为和冲击强度对ACR 用量的依赖关系。ACR对 PVC有良好的增韧作用,提高了PVC抗冲击性能。考察了三盐基性硫酸铅和硬脂酸钡-硬脂酸镉稳定剂对共混体系的影响,实验结果说明不同的热稳定体系对ACR改性PVC的效果有差别。动态力学性能测定结果表明PVC/ACR共混物存在两个玻璃化转变温度,证明PVC与ACR不相容性;而两个转变温度随共混物组成改变而变化,说明PVC与ACR之间存在着相互作用,PVC/ACR为部分相容体系。通过透射电子显微镜观察PVC/ACR共混物的微观结构形态表明:PVC与 ACR为两相体系,ACR呈粒状分布在PVC连续相中。但是,采用硬脂酸钡-硬脂酸镉稳定体系时,随着ACR用量增加,ACR的分散形态由粒状分散逐渐形成网络结构形态,与此相对应的共混物具有更好的抗冲击性能。     

Topologically interpenetrating elastomeric networks

Several partially interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPN) were made by combining chemically different linear elastomers. The polymer combinations were deposited as films from aqueous emulsions made by mixing the individual emulsions in equal proportions. The films were crosslinked to form two superimposed networks. In two cases, the networks were cleanly separated by hydrolysis of one of the component networks to demonstrate that there was no chemical interaction between the polymers. Measurement of crosslink density showed that, in most cases, partial interpenetration does occur as evidenced by an effective crosslink density of the IPN's greater than the arithmetic mean of the crosslink densities of the component networks. The swelling ratios, densities, and stress–strain properties were determined. For one of the network combinations, a poly(urethane–urea) and a poly(butadiene–acrylonitrile), a series of IPN's varying in polymer composition was made. The swelling ratios and densities are close to the arithmetic means; however, both the tensile strength and crosslink density exhibit a maximum at about 70% poly(butadiene-acrylonitrile). The maximum tensile strength is actually significantly higher than that of either of the component polymers. The elongations all approach that of the poly(urethane–urea), the more extensible material, except for compositions approaching 100% poly(butadiene–acrylonitrile), which exhibit a very low extensibility.     

Miscibility Behaviour of Poly(ether Sulphone)/nylon-6 Blends

Binary blends of poly (ether sulphone) (PES) and Nylon-6 were prepared in a whole range of composition by melt extrusion. Miscibility behaviour of the blends were studied using thermal analytical techniques like differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Due to the rapid crystallization of Nylon-6 as it is cooled from the melt state, its glass transition behaviour could not be detected even in the quenched samples by DSC. Furthermore, the crystallization and melting behaviour of the blends have been studied by DSC. DMA results show that the dynamic storage modulus of the blends were in-between those of the constituent polymers. Also the glass transition of Nylon-6 phase as determined by the peak in loss tangent remains constant which shows that the two polymers are immiscible. Thermal expansion coefficient of the blends as determined by TMA is greater than that of Nylon-6 signifying the increased dimensional stability of the blends at higher temperatures. Morphological studies done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show the biphasic nature of the blends, with clear cut boundaries between the phases because of poor interfacial adhesion. Dispersed particle size is small when Nylon-6 is the dispersed phase because of its lower melt viscosity as compared to PES. Thermal stability of the blends was measured using thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Two-step decomposition behaviour was observed because of macro-phase separated morphology. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

PVA/PVP共混物的SAXS研究

聚乙烯醇(PVA)/聚吡咯烷酮(PVP)共混物的小角X-射线散射(SAXS)研究表明,PVA/PVP共混物的结构参数与共混物组分比及热历史密切相关。按Vonk一维电子密度相关函数法,得到PVA/PVP共混物的长周期,过渡层厚随PVP组分含量增加而增加;结晶片层厚和比内表面积却随PVP含量增加而降低。热处理可提高共混物的结晶性。     

In situ reactive compatibilization of polypropylene/epoxidized natural rubber blends by electron induced reactive processing: novel in‐line mixing technology

Blends of polypropylene (PP) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) were prepared by an in‐line electron induced reactive processing technique. The mixing was done in a Brabender mixing chamber coupled with an electron accelerator. The effect of sequence of electron treatment on the compatibilization of non‐polar PP and polar ENR was investigated in the presence of triallyl cyanurate (TAC). Finally, the resulting blends were characterized by different techniques, namely, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile tests, and rheological studies. Generation of phase coupling and chemical compatibilization were observed from FTIR analysis. DMA studies showed enhanced high‐temperature modulus (above the glass transition temperature of both components) followed up by lowering in the tan δ peak. Rheological studies showed increase in modulus at low frequencies. Electron treatment and incorporation of rubber phase into PP showed significant effect on the degree of crystallinity of the blends, which was characterized by DSC study. The results obtained from FTIR, DMA, SEM, rheological studies, and tensile tests strongly affirmed that electron induced reactive processing of PP in presence of TAC before adding of ENR performed the best amongst all samples modified with electrons investigated in this study. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phase separation,porous structure,and cure kinetics in aliphatic epoxy resin containing hyperbranched polyester

Thermosetting blends of an aliphatic epoxy resin and a hydroxyl‐functionalized hyperbranched polymer (HBP), aliphatic hyperbranched polyester Boltorn H40, were prepared using 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) as the curing agent. The phase behavior and morphology of the DDM‐cured epoxy/HBP blends with HBP content up to 40 wt % were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cured epoxy/HBP blends are immiscible and exhibit two separate glass transitions, as revealed by DMA. The SEM observation showed that there exist two phases in the cured blends, which is an epoxy‐rich phase and an HBP‐rich phase, which is responsible for the two separate glass transitions. The phase morphology was observed to be dependent on the blend composition. For the blends with HBP content up to 10 wt %, discrete HBP domains are dispersed in the continuous cured epoxy matrix, whereas the cured blend with 40 wt % HBP exhibits a combined morphology of connected globules and bicontinuous phase structure. Porous epoxy thermosets with continuous open structures on the order of 100–300 nm were formed after the HBP‐rich phase was extracted with solvent from the cured blend with 40 wt % HBP. The DSC study showed that the curing rate is not obviously affected in the epoxy/HBP blends with HBP content up to 40 wt %. The activation energy values obtained are not remarkably changed in the blends; the addition of HBP to epoxy resin thus does not change the mechanism of cure reaction of epoxy resin with DDM. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 889–899, 2006     

Effect of transesterification products on the miscibility and phase behavior of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/bisphenol A polycarbonate blends

Blends of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/bisphenol A polycarbonate (PTT/PC) with different compositions were prepared by melt blending. The effect of transesterification on the miscibility and phase behavior of the blends was studied using DSC, DMA, and ¹H NMR. The DMA results revealed a two-phase system with partial miscibility. DSC thermograms of the first heating scan showed a crystallizable system in which addition of PC-phase reduces the degree of crystallinity. However, the cooling and also the second heating scans revealed the complete miscibility of all the blends. It was concluded that annealing at 300 °C (to remove thermal history of the blends) caused the constituents to undergo the transesterification reaction, which changes the blend to a miscible system. The miscibility is due to formation of block copolymers with different block lengths which also suppress the crystallization of the system. The degree of randomness and sequence lengths of the copolymers were determined to analyze the extent of transesterification reaction and structure of the system. It was observed that as the reaction progresses, the degree of randomness increases and the sequence length of the copolymers decreases. Moreover, both increase of reaction time and temperature increased the extent of reaction. The results of DSC and ¹H NMR showed that a small amount of reaction is needed to change this system to a miscible blend.