EFFECT OF KINETICS ON MORPHOLOGY AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF POLY(ALLYL DIGLYCOL CARBONATE)-POLY(URETHANE) INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORKS

Simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks (SINs) of polyallyl diglycol carbonate (ADC) and polyurethane (PU) were prepared by differing modes of synthesis. The kinetics of the network formation of each constituent component was investigated by gel time studies and infra-red spectroscopy. The effect of different rates of network formation of each component on the morphology and mechanical properties were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), stress-strain, and single edge notch tension. TEM and DMA studies showed a two-phase separated morphology. The extent of phase separation was dependent on the relative rate of formation of component networks. Thus, simultaneous gelation of both networks showed a fine morphology and exhibited improved toughness over neat ADC resin.