Ccm. Ma et al., INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORKS OF POLYURETHANE AND FURFURYL ALCOHOL .1. MORPHOLOGY AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES, Die Angewandte makromolekulare Chemie, 214, 1994, pp. 39-56
Polyurethane/furfuryl alcohol (PU/FA) interpenetrating polymer network
s (IPNs) were synthesized from furfuryl alcohol using p-toluene sulfon
ic acid as a catalyst and blocked NCO-terminated PU prepolymer with m-
xylylenediamine (MXDA) as a chain extender. From IR spectrum analysis
it was found that the major reactions in the PU/MXDA/FA system are the
polymerization of PU/MXDA and the self-polymerization of FA. The tens
ile strengths of PU/FA IPNs that contain 5 p.h.r. PU are greater than
those of the pure components. The flexural strength, flexural modulus,
Shore D hardness and HDT decrease and the notched Izod impact strengt
h increases with the polyurethane content. The compatibility of the co
mpounds in these PU/FA IPNs was investigated by dynamic mechanical ana
lysis and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that glass transi
tion temperatures are shifted inwardly which indicated that the PU/FA
IPNs were semicompatible. It was confirmed from scanning electron micr
ography that the system was heterogeneous.