(A) study on the synthesis and properties of polyurethane/poly(acrylonitrile-co-styrene)SIN's

Abstract

Polyurethane/poly(acrylonitrile-co-styrene) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN``s) were prepared by the simultaneous polymerization process. In order to observe the relative rate effect of the simultaneous polymerization, the polymerization kinetics of Pu and PSAN were studied. The polymerization reaction of PU was a 2nd order reaction, while the polymerization reaction of PSAN was a 1st order reaction. The gel-times of PU and PSAN were theoretically calculated. Three types of SIN``s, one with faster gel-time in PU than in PSAN, one with similar gel-times in both components, and one with faster gel-time in PSAN than in PU, were prepared for comparison. The morphology of PU/PSAN SIN``s were observed via transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The electron micrographs revealed that the SIN systems with similar gel-times in both component polymer networks showed finer domain structures (high degree of mixing). The Tg behavior studied by the dynamic mechanical analysis also showed larger shift in Tg in the case of SIN``s with similar gel-times in both components.