Abstract
IPN based on poly(bismuth acrylate) and poly(arsenic acrylate) have been synthesized by using BPO as initiator. Complex formation occurs through “polymer solvent” method indicating contraction of polymer coils through weak van der Waal's forces, by determining the value of mutual interaction constant (KAB) in different solvents such as DMSO, DMF, dioxane. The scanning electron microscopy reveals a two phase morphology of both metal acrylates and the infrared spectrum indicates frequency of (>C=O) at 1640 cm−1. The properties like percentage swelling, crosslink density, young's moduls are a direct function of linear polymer [polybismuth acrylate] and initiator [benzoyl peroxide] where as inverse function of monomer [arsenic acrylate] and crosslinker [divinylbenzene]. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) curve shows two glass transition temperatures of the IPN at 63°C and 79°C. The value of the activation energy, of IPN, calculated from thermogravimetric analysis is 10.25 KJ/mol.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful to Dr. V. K. Jain, Director, H. B. T. I., Kanpur for providing the necessary facilities, and also to the Advanced Center of Material Sciences, I. I. T., Kanpur, for providing SEM facilities. Authors are also thankful to the Council of Science and Technology, Lucknow for sanctioning the project “Synthesis and Characterization of Interpenetrating Polymer Network”.