MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF POLYURETHANE MODIFIED WITH METHYL-METHACRYLATE

Three kinds of polyurethane-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PU-PMMA), that is, linear polymer, block copolymer, and interpenetrating polymer netw ork (IPN), were synthesized by a simultaneous polymerization process, respectively. The effects of several factors such as ultraviolet (UV) setting, heat setting, chemical composition, and physical structure on the morphological structure and mechanical properties of polymers wer e studied by scanning electron micrograph, dynamic mechanical loss spe ctrum, and mechanical tests. The results show that PU-PMMA is a partia lly compatible system with a two-phase structure; the linear polymer h as the highest elongation at break, and IPN has the strongest tensile strength, while the block copolymer has poor mechanical properties. In addition, the UV setting block copolymer and IPN system, with regular microphase domain structures, have higher tensile strength and elonga tion at break than those of heat setting polymers. With MMA content an d hard segment in PU increasing, the tensile strength increases, and t he elongation decreases. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.