SAXS measurements of the interface in polyacrylate and epoxy interpenetrating networks with fractal geometry

The interface thickness in two-component interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) system based on polyacrylate and epoxy were determined using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in terms of the theory proposed by Ruland. The thickness was found to be nonexistent for the samples at various compositions and synthesized at variable conditions-temperature and initiator concentration. By viewing the system as a two-phase system with a sharp boundary, the roughness of the interface was described by fractal dimension, D, which slightly varies with composition and synthesis condition. Length scales in which surface fractals are proved to be correct exist for each sample and range from 0.02 to 0.4 Angstrom(-1). The interface in the present IPN system was treated as fractal, which reasonably explained the differences between Pored's law and experimental data, and gained an insight into the interaction between different segments on the interface. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.