THE EFFECT OF MICROPHASE SEPARATION ON THE KINETICS OF THE FORMATION OF SEMIINTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORKS

The kinetics of the formation of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks, based on the cross-linked polyurethane produced from polyesters with different molecular masses, and poly(butyl methacrylate), was studied. The kinetics of the formation of a polyurethane component in the semi-interpenetrating polymer networks was described in terms of the Avraami-Erofeev equation and compared with the kinetics of the formation of the initial polyurethane network. Cross-linking in semi-interpenetrating polymer networks was shown to be controlled by the presence of a second component, [poly(butyl methacrylate)], which promotes microphase separation of the system and thus increases the total rate of the formation of the polymer network.