Effects of molecular weight of nitrocellulose on structure and properties of polyurethane/nitrocellulose IPNs

Semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) coatings were prepared by using castor oil‐based polyurethane (PU) and nitrocellulose (NC) with various viscosity‐average molecular weights (M_η) from 6 × 10⁴ to 42 × 10⁴, and coated on a regenerated cellulose (RC) film to obtain water‐resistant film. The PU/NC coatings and coated films, which were cured at 80°C for 5 min and 2 min, respectively, were investigated by infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, swelling test, strength test, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results show that the crosslink densities of the PU/NC semi‐IPNs were smaller than that of pure PU, and decreased with the decrease of M_η of nitrocellulose (NC M_η), indicating NC molecules cohered intimately with PU, and hindered the PU network formation. The physical and mechanical properties of the films coated with PU/NC coatings were significantly improved. With the increase of NC M_η, the strength and thermal stability of the coated films increased, but the pliability, water resistivity, and optical transmission decreased slowly. The PU/NC coating with low NC M_η more readily penetrated into the RC film, and reacted with cellulose, resulting in a strong interfacial bonding and dense surface caused by intimate blend of PU/NC in the coated films. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1623–1631, 1999     

Dual temperature‐ and pH‐sensitive hydrogels from interpenetrating networks and copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide and sodium acrylate

Hydrogels responsive to both temperature and pH have been synthesized in the forms of sequential interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and sodium acrylate (SA) and compared with the crosslinked random copolymers of N‐isopropylacrylamide and SA. Whereas the stimuli‐sensitive behaviors of copolymer hydrogels were strongly dependent on the ionic SA contents, the IPN hydrogels exhibited independent swelling and thermal behaviors of each network component. The sequences and media in the synthesis of IPNs influenced the swelling capacities of the IPNs, but not the temperature or pH ranges at which the swelling changes occurred. In IPNs, a more expanded primary gel network during the synthesis of the secondary network contributed to the better swelling of the final IPNs. Both the swelling and thermal behaviors of the IPNs suggest that poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and poly(sodium acrylate) are phase separated regardless of their synthesis conditions. The presence of the poly(sodium acrylate) network did not influence the temperature or the extent of phase transition of the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) network in the IPNs, but did improve the thermal stability of the IPNs. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3293–3301, 2004     

Interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyurethane and polysiloxane

A series of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs), based on a polyurethane (PU) and polydimethylsiloxane, has been synthesized and characterized by means of DSC, TEM, TGA, 1H-NMR and IR spectroscopies, and other techniques. The homo-networks have been characterized by swelling in n-hexane and chloroform. The IPNs are obtained by combination of a PU based of the castor oil and 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI) with different amounts of polydimethylsiloxane-α,ω-diol (PDMS). These materials have interesting individual physical properties, but some IPNs exhibited superior properties than either of the separate networks. For interesting results, it was used as compatibilizer the polydimethylsiloxane graft polyalkylene oxide. All the IPNs exhibited phase separation and maximum extent at the point of phase inversion.     

Low loss second‐order non‐linear optical crosslinked polymers based on a phosphorus‐containing maleimide

A series of crossslinked organic and organic/inorganic polymers based on maleimide chemistry have been investigated for second‐order non‐linear optical (NLO) materials with excellent thermal stability and low optical loss. Two reactive chromophores (maleimide‐containing azobenzene dye and alkoxysilane‐containing azobenzene dye) were incorporated into a phosphorus‐containing maleimide polymer, respectively. The selection of the phosphorus‐containing maleimide polymer as the polymeric matrices provides enhanced solubility and thermal stability, and excellent optical quality. Moreover, a full interpenetrating network (IPN) was formed through simultaneous addition reaction of the phosphorus‐containing maleimide, and sol‐gel process of alkoxysilane dye (ASD). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results indicate that the inorganic networks are distributed uniformly throughout the polymer matrices on a nano‐scale. The silica particle sizes are well under 100 nm. Using in situ contact poling, the r₃₃ coefficients of 2.2–17.0 pm/V have been obtained for the optically clear phosphorus‐containing NLO materials. Excellent temporal stability (100°C) and low optical loss (0.99–1.71 dB/cm; 830 nm) were also obtained for these phosphorus‐containing materials. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Curing kinetics and morphology of IPNs from a flexible dimethacrylate and a rigid epoxy via sequential photo and thermal polymerization

The curing kinetics and morphology of Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) formed from a rigid epoxy resin thermally cured by an anhydride, and a photocured flexible dimethacrylate resin, have been studied by temperature ramping differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), near-infrared (NIR), and dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA). This combination of cross-linkable resins permits the partial or complete cure of each component independent of the other. Also, since the monomers are polar but chemically dissimilar thermosetting resins, their IPNs should offer considerable variation in properties. DSC studies showed that the possible interactions between each component in the IPN could be minimized, but that the curing rate and conversion of the second polymerizing component was affected by vitrification, network topology, or phase separation in the IPN. NIR was also used to confirm that virtually independent cure was achievable by the combination of the thermal and photochemical methods. Dynamical mechanical thermal analysis was used to investigate the effect of curing one or both components and of order of curing on the phase morphology of the IPN. The modulus in the rubbery region also provided information on loop formation and co-continuity of each network component through the polymer matrix. The modulus and tan δ curves showed large differences in the glass transition region of the IPNs with different curing schedules, however phase separation occurred in all fully cured IPNs. These observations conflict with a previously advanced hypothesis that rapid polymerization and gelation of the last-cured component interlocks the two networks into a single phase structure and leads to the inclusion of a caveat that the components require sufficient attraction for interlocking of the networks to occur.     

Mesoporous Polymeric Materials Tailored from Oligoester-Derivatized Interpenetrating Polymer Networks

The utilization of semi-hydrolyzable oligoester-derivatized Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPNs) as nanostructured precursors provides a straightforward and effective route to novel (meso)porous networks. In a first stage, different types of poly(D,L-lactide)/poly(methyl methacrylate)-based IPNs were synthesized by resorting to the so-called in situ sequential method. In a second stage, the quantitative hydrolysis of the polyester sub-network afforded porous structures with pore sizes ranging from 10 to 100 nm. The potentialities offered by this versatile approach were discussed, and the porosity of the resulting methacrylic networks was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and thermoporometry using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).