Swelling Behaviors, Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Thermal Stability of Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) /Poly(ethylene Glycol) Semi-Interpenetrating Networks

Abstract

Through ultrasonic-assisted oscillatory dispersion of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and radical polymerization, methyl methacrylate (MMA) is homopolymerized and crosslinked, i.e. poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(ethylene glycol) semi-interpenetrating networks (PMMA/PEG semi-IPNs) were prepared. The swelling behaviours of the semi-IPNs increase with PEG contents increasing, and decrease with PEG chain length and cross-linker contents increasing. In the semi-IPNs, PEG crystals still exist, that is, PMMA/PEG semi-IPNs are semicrystalline polymers. The effects of PEG average molecular weights and content, and cross-linker contents on the thermal behaviour of the semi-IPNs, are evaluated by the dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) and the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). With PEG contents increasing and the average molecular weights of PEG decreasing, the dynamic mechanical properties and thermal stability of the semi-IPNs displays a decline trend.