Structure and properties of semiinterpenetrating polymer networks based on polyurethane and nitrochitosan

Two semiinterpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs) based on trihydroxyl methylpropane–polyurethane (T‐PU) or castor oil–polyurethane (C‐PU) were prepared by curing the mixed solution of the polyurethane prepolymer and nitrochitosan (NCH). During the curing process, crosslinking and grafting reaction between the molecules of the PU prepolymer and NCH occurred, because of the high reactivity of remaining hydroxyl groups in the NCH with ? NCO groups of PU. The structure of the original semi‐IPN sheets and the sheets treated with acetone were studied by infrared, ¹³C‐NMR, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis, showing interpenetration of NCH molecules into the PU networks. When nitrochitosan content (C_NCH) was lower than 10 wt %, the semi‐IPN sheets T‐PU and C‐PU had higher density and tensile strength (σ_b) than the systems with C_NCH more than 20%. The trihydroxymethyl propane‐based PU reacted more readily with nitrochitosan to form the semi‐IPNs than castor oil‐based PU. The semi‐IPN coatings T‐PU and C‐PU were used to coat cellophane, resulting in intimate interfacial bonding. The mechanical strength and water resistivity of the cellophane coated with T‐PU coating were improved remarkably. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 3109–3117, 2001     

Studies on castor oil–based polyurethane/polyacrylonitrile interpenetrating polymer network for toughening of unsaturated polyester resin

Tricomponent interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) systems involving castor oil, toluenediisocyanate (TDI), acrylonitrile (AN), ethylene glycol diacrylate (EGDA), and general‐purpose unsaturated polyester resin (GPR) were prepared with various compositions. The structures of the IPNs at various stages were confirmed using FTIR. The thermal stability of the IPNs was studied using TGA, which indicated that the polyurethane/polyacrylonitrile/GPR (PU/PAN/GPR) IPN underwent single‐stage decomposition, showing perfect compatibility at the IPN composition of 10 : 90 (PU/PAN : GPR). The mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness for the IPNs with various compositions were determined. It was found that the tensile strength of the GPR matrix was decreased and flexural and impact strengths were increased upon incorporating PU/PAN networks. The swelling properties in water and toluene were also studied. The morphology of the IPNs was studied using SEM. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 817–829, 2004     

Effects of crosslinking density on structure and properties of interpenetrating polymer networks from polyurethane and nitroguar gum

Semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs) of castor oil‐based polyurethane prepolymer and nitroguar gum (NGG) with different crosslinking density of the PU network, coded as UNG films, were prepared through varying the trimethanol propane (TMP)/1,4‐butanediol (BDO) molar ratios in the chain extender mixture. The effects of crosslinking density on the structure and properties of the UNG films was investigated by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, crosslinking density measurements, solvent‐extracting tests, and tensile tests. The experimental results revealed that incorporation of TMP crosslinker into the hard segments of polyurethane resulted in a decrease in the aggregation of hard segments. With an increase of the TMP/BDO molar ratios, the semi‐IPN films exhibited the higher crosslinking density, glass temperature (T_g), stiffness, and tensile strength (σ_b). Furthermore, the experimental results also indicated that NGG restricted the formation of crosslinking networks when the TMP content is relatively high, which led to the negative deviation of the theoretically predicted crosslinking density and Dibenedetto's equation. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Synthesis of biodegradable PU/PEGDA IPNs having micro-separated morphology for enhanced blood compatibility

Summary New biodegradable hydrophobic polyurethane (PU)/hydrophilic poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) IPN was simultaneously synthesized with changing the molecular weight of PEGDA to investigate the effect of crosslinking density on the degree of phase separation. PU was modified using biodegradable poly(-caprolactone)diol and the hydroxy group of PEG was substituted to crosslinkable acrylate group having double bond, which induce photo-polymerization. The sturucture of PEGDA was confirmed by NMR. Because the reaction rate of PEGDA was faster than that of PU, the continuous matrix of the micro-separated PU/PEGDA IPNs having amphiphilic character was made of hydrophilic PEGDA-rich phase. All IPNs have sea-island morphology resulting from the suppressed phase separation. The effect of the degree of phase separation on blood compatibility was investigated.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites of silicon dioxide and polyurethane and epoxy resin interpenetrating network

Nanocomposites with varying concentrations of nanosized silicon dioxide particles were prepared by adding nanosilica to interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN)s of polyurethane and epoxy resin (PU/EP). The PU/EP IPNs and nanocomposites were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis, scanning electronic microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. The result showed that adding nanosize silicon dioxide can improve the properties of compatibility, damping and phase structure of IPN matrices. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Reinforcement of polyurethane/epoxy interpenetrating network nanocomposites with an organically modified palygorskite

An organophilic palygorskite (o‐PGS) prepared by the treatment of natural palygorskite with hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide was incorporated into interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of polyurethane (PU) and epoxy resin (EP), and a series of PU/EP/clay nanocomposites were obtained by a sequential polymeric technique and compression‐molding method. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that adding nanosize o‐PGS could promote the compatibility and phase structure of PU/EP IPN matrices. Tensile testing and thermal analysis proved that the mechanical and thermal properties of the PU/EP IPN nanocomposites were superior to those of the pure PU/EP IPN. This was attributed to the special fibrillar structure of palygorskite and the synergistic effect between o‐PGS and the IPN matrices. In addition, the swelling behavior studies indicated that the crosslink density of PU/EP IPN gradually increased with increasing o‐PGS content. The reason may be that o‐PGS made the chains more rigid and dense. As for the flame retardancy, the PU/EP nanocomposites had a higher limiting oxygen index than the pure PU. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

互穿聚合物网络技术在聚氨酯中的应用

综述了互穿聚合物网络(IPN)技术在聚氨酯材料中的应用研究进展。简述了聚氨酯IPN的制备,具体叙述环氧树脂、聚丙烯酸酯、聚硅氧烷、乙烯基酯树脂等聚合物与聚氨酯互穿网络改性的效果,并在此基础上展望了聚氨酯互穿网络聚合物的发展趋势。     

Synthesis and characterization of polyurethane/epoxy interpenetrating network nanocomposites with organoclays

Summary Novel nanocomposites with varying contents of organophilic montmorillonite (oMMT) were prepared by intercalating oMMT to interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of polyurethane and epoxy resin (PU/EP). The PU/EP networks and the oMMT modified PU/EP IPNs nanocomposites were studied with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, water absorption and tensile test. The results show that oMMT and the IPNs of polyurethane and epoxy resin exhibit synergistic effect on the phase structure and morphology of the IPNs nanocomposites. The addition of oMMT to the PU/EP IPNs matrix provides two fold benefits to the properties of the IPNs nanocomposites. oMMT has not a distinct effect on chemical structure of PU/EP IPNs but promotes the compatibility and phase structure of the IPNs, and the forced compatibility of PU and EP in interpenetrating process improves the dispersion degree of oMMT. Both the mechanical properties and water resistance of the PU/EP IPNs nanocomposites are superior to those of the pure PU/EP IPNs.     

Synthesis and characterization of high performance,transparent interpenetrating polymer networks with polyurethane and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Transparent, interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) materials were synthesized using polyurethane (PU) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). PMMA contributed to the transparency and rigidity necessary for use in impact‐resistant applications, whereas PU contributed to toughness. Several factors affecting the physical properties, such as the ratio of PU to PMMA, curing profile, inclusion of different isocyanates for the PU phase, and use of an inhibitor in the PMMA phase, were investigated. Full‐IPNs were synthesized so that the two polymer networks would remain entangled with one another, and domain sizes of each system were reduced, mitigating phase separation. Both simultaneous IPNs, polymerization of monomers occurring at the same time, and sequential IPNs, polymerization of monomers occurring at different temperatures, were synthesized for studying the reaction kinetics and final morphologies. The phase morphology and the final thermal and mechanical properties of the IPNs prepared were evaluated. Findings suggest that samples containing ～80 wt% PMMA, 1,6‐diisocyanatohexane 99+% (DCH), and an inhibitor with the MMA monomer created favorable results in the thermo‐mechanical and optical properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

环氧树脂改性聚氨酯耐热性能的研究

端异氰酸酯基聚氨酯预聚体与环氧树脂E-51形成了互穿网络,通过热重分析仪(TGA)研究了完全固化后的互穿网络的热分解行为、透射电镜研究了IPN的相分离行为,及拉伸强度、硬度等对其进行了表征。结果表明,经过环氧树脂改性的聚氨酯的耐热性能比纯聚氨酯得到了提高,且力学性能也有所改善,并对其机理进行了阐述。     

Graft interpenetrating polymer networks of polyurethane and epoxy containing rigid rods in side chain

The rigid rod‐like 4,4′‐bis(6‐hydroxyhexyloxy)biphenyl (BHHBP) units were distributed in either the epoxy or polyurethane to become SR‐epoxy and PU (with or without BHHBP) polymer matrices. The interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of PU (with or without BHHBP) and SR‐epoxy were synthesized through simultaneous polymerization, and connected each other via the grafting reaction between the ? NCO groups of the PU polymer network and the ? OH groups on the side chains of SR‐epoxy network. The thermal and mechanical characteristics, compatibilities, and morphologies of these PU (with or without BHHBP)/SR‐epoxy graft‐IPNs were investigated. The polyether‐type PU(PPG series)/SR‐ epoxy graft‐IPNs exhibited two‐phased morphologies (i.e., phase separation occurred), and higher fracture energies (G_IC). Whereas the polyester‐type PU(PBA series)/SR‐ epoxy graft‐IPNs were homogeneous (no phase separation), and exhibited higher tensile and Izod impact strengths. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Miscibility and thermal and dynamic mechanical behaviour of semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyurethane and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

The thermodynamic miscibility and thermal and dynamic mechanical behaviour of semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs) of crosslinked polyurethane (PU) and linear poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) have been investigated. The free energies of mixing of the semi‐IPN components have been determined by the vapour sorption method and it was established that the parameters are positive and depend on the amount of PHEMA in the semi‐IPN samples. Thermal analyses glass transition temperatures evidenced two in the semi‐IPNs in accordance with the investigation of the thermodynamic miscibility of these systems. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed a pronounced change in the viscoelastic properties of the PU‐based semi‐IPNs with different amounts of PHEMA in the samples. The semi‐IPNs have two distinct tan δ maxima related to the relaxations of the two polymers in their glass temperature domains. The temperature position of PU relaxation maximum tan δ is invariable but its amplitude decreases in the semi‐IPNs with increasing amount of PHEMA in the systems. The tan δ maximum of PHEMA is shifted to a lower temperature and its amplitude decreases with increasing amount of PU in the semi‐IPNs. The segregation degree of components α was calculated using the viscoelastic properties of semi‐IPNs. It was concluded that the studied semi‐IPNs are two‐phase systems with incomplete phase separation. The different levels of immiscibility lead to the different degree of phase separation in the semi‐IPNs with compositions. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Interpenetrating polymer networks of polyurethane and furfuryl alcohol. I. Morphology and mechanical properties

Polyurethane/furfuryl alcohol (PU/FA) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were synthesized from furfuryl alcohol using p-toluene sulfonic acid as a catalyst and blocked NCO-terminated PU prepolymer with m-xylylenediamine (MXDA) as a chain extender. From IR spectrum analysis it was found that the major reactions in the PU/MXDA/FA system are the polymerization of PU/MXDA and the self-polymerization of FA. The tensile strengths of PU/FA IPNs that contain 5 p.h.r. PU are greater than those of the pure components. The flexural strength, flexural modulus, Shore D hardness and HDT decrease and the notched Izod impact strength increases with the polyurethane content. The compatibility of the compounds in these PU/FA IPNs was investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that glass transition temperatures are shifted inwardly which indicated that the PU/FA IPNs were semicompatible. It was confirmed from scanning electron micrography that the system was heterogeneous.     

Poly(ether urethane)/poly(ethyl methacrylate) IPNs with high damping characteristics: The influence of the crosslink density in both networks

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) with a controlled degree of microphase separation were synthesized from a poly(ether urethane) (PUR) and poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA). The influence of the crosslink density of both networks was investigated in the 70:30 PUR/PEMA IPN. The extent of damping was evaluated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Mechanical properties were studied using tensile testing and hardness measure-ments. Control of crosslinking was successful in tailoring the damping profile. Higher crosslinking in the first-formed network (polyurethane) seemed to increase slightly the area under the linear loss modulus curve, LA, whereas no influence was obvious when changing the crosslink density in the second network. TGA studies revealed improved thermal properties for the IPNs with a higher crosslink density in the PUR network. TEM micrographs confirmed a finer morphology for the materials with a higher crosslink density in the PUR, whereas increasing the crosslink density in the PEMA network resulted in a decrease of phase mixing. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

聚氨酯/环氧树脂互穿网络聚合物反应动力学

通过共混法制备了聚氨酯(PU)/环氧树脂(EP)互穿网络聚合物(IPN),采用示差扫描量热法(DSC)和动态机械分析(DMA)对IPN形成过程中的固化反应动力学及产物IPN的相容性进行了研究,结果表明,m(PU)/m(EP)=10∶6的IPN体系的反应级数为0.95,表观活化能为169.23 kJ/mol;PU/EP IPN只有1个玻璃化转变温度,相容性好。     

Semi‐ and full‐interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyurethane produced from canola oil and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Semi‐ and full‐interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared using polyurethane (PUR) produced from a canola oil‐based polyol with primary terminal functional groups and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The properties of the material were studied and compared using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile measurements. The morphology of the IPNs was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Semi‐IPNs demonstrated different thermal mechanical properties, mechanical properties, phase behavior, and morphology from full IPNs. Both types of IPNs studied are two‐phase systems with incomplete phase separation. However, the extent of phase separation is significantly more advanced in the semi‐IPNs compared with the full IPNs. All the semi‐IPNs exhibited higher values of elongation at break for all proportions of acrylate to polyurethane compared with the corresponding full IPNs. These differences are mainly due to the fact that in the case of semi‐IPNs, one of the constituting polymers remains linear, so that it exhibits a loosely packed network and relatively high mobility, whereas in the case of full IPNs, there is a higher degree of crosslinking, which restricts the mobility of the chains. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Reaction-induced phase separation during the formation of a polyurethane-unsaturated polyester interpenetrating polymer network

In this study, an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) based on a polyurethane (PU) and a partially end-capped unsaturated polyester (UPE) was prepared. The reaction-induced phase separation process of the IPN was studied using a phase contrast optical microscope and a transmission electron microscope (TEM), while reaction kinetics and onset of gelation were determined by a differential scanning calorimeter and a rheometer respectively. Except at low temperatures, the phase separation patterns were found to follow the spinodal decomposition mechanism. An interconnected phase developed quickly and was followed by coalescence of the periodic phase to form droplet/matrix type of morphology. A second level of phase separation also occurred within both the droplet and the matrix phases in some cases. The domain sizes resulting from both levels of phase separation gradually increased until the structure was locked by chemical gelation. Reaction temperature, PU reaction rate, and UPE reaction rate all had significant effects on the final morphology of the formed IPNs.     

聚氨酯／乙烯基酯树脂互穿聚合物网络合成动力学及相容性

以丙烯酸乙酯为乙烯基酯树脂的共聚单体,利用“同步互穿”工艺室温固化制备了一系列聚氨酯／乙烯基酯树脂互穿聚合物网络 (PU/VER IPN).对IPN固化过程的动态跟踪及半定量考察的结果表明：由于两网络不同的聚合机理及体系黏度的影响,PU网络先形成,网络形成得较完善.采用示差扫描量热仪 (DSC)、原子力显微镜 (AFM)及透射电镜 (TEM)定性考察了IPN两网络间的相容性,结果表明：形成的双相连续“同步互穿”体系的相畴尺寸在纳米级范围,当PU 和VER的组成比为80/20和70/30时体系均出现一个玻璃化转变温度 (T_g),较好地改善了PU与常规VER树脂的相容性.进一步通过DSC实测和理论T_g值的计算获得相容因子 (θ),定量考察了两网络间的相容性.     

Mechanical properties of polyurethane-unsaturated polyester interpenetrating polymer networks

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on a polyurethane (PU) and two unsaturated polyester (UPE) resins (a commercially available UPE and a partially endcapped UPE) were prepared. The mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, elongation at break, impact strength, and dynamic mechnical properties of IPNs, were studied by changing reaction temperature, PU reaction rate, and UPE reaction rate. Owing to the unique microgel formaton of UPE, the first formed network tends t be the dispersed phase in the PU-UPE IPN system. The reaction sequence was found to be an important factor in determining the phase mixing and phase morphology of the IPNs. When the PU reaction was faster, extensive phase mixing due to strong grafting or chain interpenetration was obtained. When the UPE reacted first, grafting was retarded by the microgel formation of the UPE network. It was found that simultaneous reaction of the two reacting system resulted in a co-continuous structure that provided enhanced tensile properties and impact strength.     

Ionomer interpenetrating polymer networks from polyurethane anionomers and polyurethane isocyanurate

Two-component interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) systems composed from polyurethane isocyanurate and polyurethane anionomer were prepared by simultaneous polymerization and crosslinking in solution. Specific attractive forces that occurred among various networks helped to make them compatible and led to the formation of true homogeneous topologically interpenetrating polymer networks. These ionomer IPNs were characterized by means of stress-strain properties, hardness, thermogravimetric analysis, density and conductivity. The morphology of the IPNs was studied by thermomechanical analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis.