EPOXY-POLY(2-ETHYLHEXYL ACRYLATE) INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORKS MORPHOLOGY AND MECHANICAL AND THERMAL-PROPERTIES

Full and semi-IPNs of Poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), PEHA and crosslinke d epoxy homopolymer were prepared and characterized by measurements of mechanical, thermal and morphological properties. Aromatic polyamine adducts and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were used as the cross-link er for epoxy and comonomer/cross-linker for 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate mon omer. Effects of changes of blend ratio on the properties were examine d. Semi-IPNs were characterized by higher tensile strength and modulus than the corresponding full IPNs. Both semi- and full IPNs were chara cterized by broadening of transitions in their respective DSC curves w hile the weight retention in the thermal decomposition of the IPNs and pseudo-IPNs was higher than the epoxy homopolymer network. Phase sepa rated rubber domains of various sizes are presumed to be responsible f or the increased roughness of poly(2-ethyl hexyl acrylate)-modified ep oxy which is substantiated by SEM micrographs.