THE EFFECT OF MICROPHASE SEPARATION ON TH E KINETICS OF THE FORMATIONOF SEMIINTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORKS

The kinetics of the formation of semi-interpenetrating polymer network s, based on the cross-linked polyurethane produced from polyesters wit h different molecular masses, and poly(butyl methacrylate), was studie d. The kinetics of the formation of a polyurethane component in the se mi-interpenetrating polymer networks was described in terms of the Avr aami-Erofeev equation and compared with the kinetics of the formation of the initial polyurethane network. Cross-linking in semi-interpenetr ating polymer networks was shown to be controlled by the presence of a second component, [poly(butyl methacrylate)], which promotes micropha se separation of the system and thus increases the total rate of the f ormation of the polymer network.