Interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(dimethylsiloxane) with polystyrene, polybutadiene and poly(glycerylpropoxytriacrylate)

The synthesis of full and semi interpenetrating networks (IPNs) based on poly(dimethy1‐siloxane) (PDMS)/polystyrene, PDMS/polybutadiene and PDMS/poly(glycerylpropoxytriacry‐late) 1 Glycerylpropoxytriacrylate (GFTA): magnified image is described. PDMS was used as host polymer in most cases. PDMS networks were prepared with two prepolymers having different number‐average molecular weights between junctions, M̄c = 15 · l03 and M̄c = 75 · l03. Physical properties of IPN samples such as stress‐strain behaviour, swelling and glass transition temperature (Tg) were examined. IPNs of both PDMS/polystyrene and PDMS/poly(glycerylpropoxytriacrylate) exhibit superior mechanical and elastomeric properties with respect to pure PDMS network. Most of the IPN systems studied in this work display two Tgs and indicate phase separation.