| Abstract: | Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) with opposite charge groups (tertiary amine and carboxyl groups) made from polyurethanes and methacrylate polymers have been synthesized and their properties and morphology, studied. With increasing carboxyl group concentration the mechanical properties and compatibility between the component networks were significantly improved, possibly because of the negative (or zero) free energy produced by the interaction contribution between the tertiary amine groups in the polyurethanes and the carboxyl groups in the methacrylate polymers determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The improved molecular mixing in these IPNs was thought to be due to the influence of the opposite charge groups in these systems. |
