Abstract: | The reaction kinetics of irradiation-prepolymerized MMA-PU (polyether) IPNs have been studied by FTIR. The results indicate that the polymerization of each component in the IPN follows its normal distinct reaction mechanism with no mutual interference. Increasing the concentration of TMPTMA (crosslinking agent of PMMA) increased the formation rate of PMMA, while the formation rate of PU networks remained almost the same. Increasing the concentration of TMP (crosslinking agent of PU) increased the formation rate of PU, while the formation rate of PMMA networks decreased. The formation rate of PU was obviously faster than that of PMMA. A theory for the cage effect of the PU network has been proposed. |