Compatibilization of Components in Interpenetrating Polymer Networks. Influence of Carbon Fiber Filler on Formation Kinetics and Phase Structure
Alexander M. Fainleib, Olexandr O. Brovko, Elena A. Slinchenko and Lyudmila M. Sergeeva
For semi-IPNs based on linear polyurethane (PU) and cross-linked copolymer (CPL) of dicyanate ester of Bisphenol A and diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A the kinetic peculiarities of formation, phase structure and viscoelastic properties have been studied. The influence of polyurethane as well as of carbon fiber filler of different surface activity on kinetics of transformation of cyanate and epoxy groups during CPL formation and phase structure of resulting semi-IPNs have been investigated. It is shown that CPL is formed faster in the presence of PU and much faster at the additional introducing carbon fiber (CF) filler. The introduction of CF filler generates a microphase separation in the semi-IPNs studied perhaps due to selective or preferred adsorption of PU onto CF surface. The activation of CF surface by grafting of phosphate groups onto CF surface leads to lower degree of phase separation in filled semi-IPNs perhaps due to competitive chemisorption of forming CPL onto activated filler surface.