Fabrication of toughened plastic using styrene butadiene rubber-poly (methyl methacrylate) interpenetrating polymer networks

A standard set of interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPNs) has been contrived using an elastomerstyrene butadiene rubber and a thermoplastic poly (methyl methacrylate) through sequential polymerization protocol. This low-cost material can be hopefully engaged as a toughened plastic with cocontinuous morphology. Different morphological protocols including Raman imaging are effectively utilized to envisage the effect of blend ratio in IPN fabrication. The different mechanical properties of IPNs revealed that the cross-linking in phases have their own impact. Thermogravimetric analysis is used as an efficient tool to prove the extra thermal stability of IPNs. Of seven different composites theoretical models, the Davies model showed better fit to the experimental data. The etiquette of characterization adopted in this work including mechanical, morphological, and thermal protocols and their correlation with theoretical predictions can definitely be act as a platform for the synthesis of low-cost toughened plastic. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study presents a standard set of interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPNs) using elastomer-styrene butadiene rubber and thermoplastic poly(methyl methacrylate) through sequential polymerization protocol, aiming to develop a low-cost toughened plastic with cocontinuous morphology. Different morphological protocols and theoretical models, such as the Davies model, are employed to investigate the mechanical properties and thermal stability of IPNs, providing a platform for the synthesis of low-cost toughened plastic.