Optical properties of IPN-like networks polyethylene/poly(butylmethacrylate-co-styrene) copolymer systems. III.Inftuence of copolymer crosslinkers

Poly[butyImethacrylate (BMA)-co-styrene(S)] copolymers and low-density polyethylene (PE) IPN-like networks were synthesized by a procedure described in earlier papers. Different molar BMA/S copolymer molar ratios starting from 5O/50 up to 100/0 and a molar percentage of 1.0 of two copolymer crosslinkers, divinylbenzene and 1,4-butanedioldimethacrylate were used. The samples were analysed at room temperature (RT) by WAXS, swelling in CCl4 and mechanical tests. Dynamic mechanical tests and optical investigations were performed in a temperature range between RT and 180°C. Both IPN types, at high copolymer BMA contents, showed a matching-mismatching optical transition of PE and copolymer refractive index with varying temperature. The type of the copolymer crosslinker influenced sensitively alI the investigated properties. © 2001 Published by Eisevier Science Ltd.