Study on the morphology and properties of interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(antimony acrylate) and poly(bismuth acrylate)

A series of semi-IPN based on poly(antimony acrylate) and poly(bismuth acry late), using benzoyl peroxide in DMF and divinylbenzene as crosslinking age nts, has been synthesized. The values of coefficient of interaction (K-AB) between the two polymers in solvents such as DMSO, DME and dioxane reflect contraction of the polymer coils in the order DMSO > DMF > dioxane. The sca nning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals a dual-phase morphology of both met al acrylates. Properties like percentage swelling, average molecular weight between crosslinks (M-C), and Young's modulus increase with concentration of poly(antimony acrylate) and poly(benzoyl peroxide). However, they decrea se with concentration of bismuth acrylate and divinyl benzene. The differen tial scanning calorimeter (DSC) curve shows two glass transition temperatur es for IPN at 60 and 72 degreesC. The value of activation energy, calculate d from thermogravimetric analysis, is 20 KJ/mol.