STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF AN INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORK-LIKE SYSTEM CONSISTING OF POLYSTYRENE POLYETHYLENE .1. SYNTHESIS, ELASTOMERIC AND THERMOANALYTICAL CHARACTERIZATION

A polystyrene-polyethylene (PS-PE) interpenetrating polymer network (I PN)-like system was prepared by synthesis in situ. The system differs from 'pure' IPN systems in that the PS network is partially grafted on to the PE network. The mean molar mass of the polymer chain between tw o junction points (M(c)BAR) was calculated from the values of uniaxial compression modulus. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermomech anical analysis measurements pointed to a considerable decrease of the crystalline phase in PE with increasing PS content. The melting tempe rature enhancement of the crystalline phase of PE is discussed.