Synthesis and characterization of interpenetrating polymer network of poly (Methylhydrosiloxane) and polystyrene

Abstract

A series of Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN), of poly(methylhydrosiloxane) and polystyrene was synthesized, using divinyl benzene (DVB) as cross linker and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator. The characterization of the sample is done by FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogrametric analysis (TGA) and fluorescent technique. FT-IR spectra reveals presence of poly(methylhydrosiloxane) at 1048 cm–1 and polystyrene at 1451 cm–1. Shifting in band positions depict formation of IPN. SEM images show a clear dual phase morphology. DSC thermogram shows glass transition temperature (Tg) value of the polymer is network at 380oC. TGA graph shows thermal stability of IPN upto 345oC. Proton NMR spectra of IPN reveals presence of poly(hydrosiloxane) at 4.7 ppm, 1.2 ppm and poly(styrene) 7.2 ppm. Fluorescence spectra of IPN observed in emission spectra of excitations of IPN reveals a maximal peak at 445 nm, which suggest typical high intensity blue emitting property of the polymer network.