Complexation of Fe3+, Cu2+, and Cr3+ β-diketonates with poly(urethane) and poly(methyl methacrylate) in semi-interpenetrating networks: Effect on phase separation

Complexation of iron, copper, and chromium β-diketonates with poly(urethane) and poly(methyl methacrylate) in semi-interpenetrating polymer networks was studied by IR spectroscopy and ESR using various paramagnetic probes. It was shown that types of complexes arising in semi-interpenetrating polymer networks depend on the central metal ion in a chelate. In the networks containing iron and copper β-diketonates, formation of complexes between chelates of these metals and donor groups of PUR and PMMA promotes mutual penetration of poly(urethane) and poly(methyl methacrylate) phases. As a consequence, the degree of their separation decreases and the interphase region widens.