RUBBER-MODIFIED AND THERMOPLASTIC-MODIFIED POLYMER NETWORKS - PHASE-SEPARATION PROCESS INDUCED BY POLYMERIZATION AND POLYCONDENSATION

Polymer blends based on thermosets are very useful for many applicatio ns (toughened plastics, adhesives, composites, polymer-dispersed liqui d crystals). Generally, at curing temperature, T-i, the initial mixtur e of monomer(s) and additive is homogeneous. The dispersed phase resul ts from the phase separation induced by polycondensation or polymeriza tion of the monomer(s). The process can be looked upon as a ''chemical quench'' because the chemical reaction drives the change in free ener gy. The role of chemistry is principally to try to control the morphol ogies; some trends are given in this publication.