THE APPLICATION OF BULK POLYMERIZED ACRYLIC AND METHACRYLIC INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORKS TO NOISE AND VIBRATION DAMPING

Novel acrylic/methacrylic interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were examined by dynamic mechanical spectroscopy for their damping capabilities. Multicomponent polymer systems with controlled degree of miscibility, such as IPNs, may exhibit high damping properties over temperature ranges as broad as approximately 100 degree C. Two series of IPNs based on poly(n-butyl acrylate) and poly(n-butyl methacrylate) were synthesized and the dynamic mechanical properties were investigated using a Rheovibron. Graphite was incorporated into the poly(n-butyl acrylate) homopolymer and a few IPNs to measure the change in the damping properties. For important IPN compositions, tan delta values between 0. 4 and 0. 85 were observed over a 75 degree C plus temperature range. Graphite increased the damping properties of poly(n-butyl acrylate) and the IPNs, as indicated by the tan delta values.