Synthesis and characterization of castor oil based polyurethane-polyacrylonitrile interpenetrating polymer networks

A series of interpenetrating polymer networks; (IPNs) of castor oil based polyurethane/polyacrylonitrile (PU/PAN: 80/20, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60 and 20/80) we:re synthesized by condensation reaction of castor oil with methylene diisocyanate and acrylonitrile, employing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and ethylene glycol dimethyl-acrylate (EGDM) as initiator and crosslinkers respectively, The physical, chemical, optical and some of the mechanical properties of PU/PAN were studied. Phase stabilization in IPNs was investigated by wide angle X-ray (WAXS) profile analysis, Variation of crystal size distribution was studied in these polymer networks.