Optical properties of IPN-like networks polyethylene/poly (butylmethacrylate-co-styrene) copolymer systems. III. Influence of copolymer crosslinkers

Poly[butylmethacrylate (BMA)-co-styrene(S)] copolymers and low-density poly ethylene (PE) IPN-like networks were synthesized by a procedure described i n earlier papers. Different molar BMA/S copolymer molar ratios starting from 50/50 up to 100/ 0 and a molar percentage of 1.0 of two copolymer crosslinkers, divinylbenze ne and 1,4-butanedioldimethacrylate were used. The samples were analysed at room temperature (RT) by WAXS, swelling in CCl 4 and mechanical tests. Dynamic mechanical tests and optical investigations were performed in a temperature range between RT and 180 degreesC. Both IPN types, at high copolymer BMA contents, showed a matching-mismatchi ng optical transition of PE and copolymer refractive index with varying tem perature. The type of the copolymer crosslinker influenced sensitively all the invest igated properties. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.