Compatibility and crystallization in poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(methyl methacrylate) semi-interpenetrating polymer network

Differential scanning calorimetry together with dynamic mechanical analysis were employed to investigate the crystallinity and the miscibility in poly(ethylene oxide)/crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) semi-IPN (interpenetrating polymer networks). The crystallinity of poly(ethylene oxide) in the semi-IPN is found to depend on the crosslink density of PMMA as well as the overall content of PEO. Of special interest is that an increase in the crosslink density tends to increase the crystallinity contrary to our expectation, indicating crystallization and phase separation may proceed simultaneously during IPN formation. The investigation of glass transition behaviors with dynamic mechanical analysis suggests phase separation (i.e., there exist two amorphous phases: one PEO-rich phase, the other a PMMA-rich phase). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.