SUPERMOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF P(AN-AM-AA) PVAINTERMACROMOLECULAR COMPLEX FORMED THROUGH HYDROGEN-BONDING/

In this article the supermolecular structure and mechanical properties of poly(acrylonitrile-acrylamide-acrylic acid)/poly(vinyl alcohol) [P (AN-AM-AA)/PVA] intermacromolecular complex formed through hydrogen bo nding were studied by means of SEM, TEM, and mechanical property testi ng. The experimental results show that fibrous or network structure co uld be formed in P(AN-AM-AA)/PVA intermacromolecular complex, and this unique supramolecular structure endows the material with much superio r mechanical properties to its constituents. The tensile strength of P (AN-AM-AA)/PVA complex is as high as 3 times that of PVA, and the Youn g's modulus of the complex is almost 6 times that of PVA. All the enco uraging results demonstrate that intermacromolecular complexation amon g the polymers having complementary structures is an innovative strate gy to reinforce polymer materials and, therefore, to prepare a new kin d of microcomposites. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.