New elastomers based on uralkyd/polystyrene interpenetrating polymer networks

Isocyanate terminated uralkyd resin was synthesized in the laboratory. The uralkyd resin was reacted with styrene monomer using benzoyl peroxide as th e initiator and interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were synthesized. The elastomers obtained showed decreasing tensile strength and hardness, wh ereas an increasing elongation was observed, with increase in the uralkyd c ontent in uralkyd/polystyrene IPNs. Thermogravimetric analyses were used to study the thermal behavior of IPNs and determination of activation energy. The syntheses of the IPNs (25/75 uralkyd/polystyrene ratio) incorporating triethanolamine as a chain extender and curing agent for uralkyd resin, sho wed an activation energy of 19.15 kcal mol(-1) as compared to 10.19 kcal mo l(-1) for IPNs without triethanolamine, which is nearly twice as much. No n oticeable change was observed in the glass transition temperatures (T(g)s) of the IPNs with or without triethanolamine.