Glass transition temperatures of microphase-separated semi-interpenetrating polymer networks of polystyrene- inter-poly( cross-2-ethylhexyl methacrylate)

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 36; no. 18; pp. 3451 - 3457
• Main Authors: de Graaf, Leontine A., Möller, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1995; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agrotechnological Research Institute; Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; glass transition; Instituut voor Agrotechnologisch Onderzoek; Organic polymers; phase separation; Physicochemistry of polymers; Properties and characterization; semi-IPNs; Thermal and thermodynamic properties; glass transition; phase separation; semi-IPNs; Interpenetrating network; Dynamic mechanical properties; Property composition relationship; Alkyl methacrylate polymer; Morphology; Styrene polymer; Semiinterpenetrating polymer network; Compatibility; Experimental study; Glass transition temperature; Atactic polymer; Structure composition relationship
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/0032-3861(95)92015-7

The glass transition temperature of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) of atactic polystyrene (PS) in crosslinked methacrylates was studied by systematic variation of the morphology, that is domain size, continuity and concentration in the domains. Semi-IPNs were prepared from homogeneous polymer solutions in a two-step process, of liquid-liquid demixing upon cooling followed by gelation, and subsequent ultra-violet polymerization. Semi-IPNs with very little developed phase separation could be obtained, which exhibited optical transparency and a mechanical behaviour similar to that expected for corresponding homogeneous systems. A low PS concentration inside the domains indicated that these domains consisted of only an interphase layer. Samples that were phase separated to a larger extent showed normal two-phase behaviour.