Investigation of Phase Separation and Morphology of Organic-Inorganic Interpenetrating Polymer Networks

Abstract

Abstract The paper investigates the process of phase separation and morphology of organic-inorganic interpenetrating polymer networks (OI IPNs) based on the cross-linked polyurethane (PU), poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(titanium oxide) (–TiO2–)n obtained by solgel method in the presence of poly(oxypropylene glycol) (POPG) at various molar ratio of titanium (IV) isopropoxide (Ti(OPri)4) and water. It has been established that the phase separation in OI IPNs depends on the kinetics of PHEMA-component formation and it occurs through the mechanism of the spinodal decomposition. It has been shown that by varying the ratio of IPNs components, content of inorganic component and Ti(OPri)4/H2O molar ratio it is possible to control the phase separation process and obtain OI IPNs with a different phase structure.