Shape memory properties and unusual optical behaviour of an interpenetrating network of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

摘要

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) with shape memory properties was prepared by using poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). PHEMA acts as a fixed phase and PEO as a switching phase. The switching action of PEO is due to the reversible process of melting and crystallization. It was observed that the shape recovery of the IPN increases with increasing crosslinker concentration up to an optimum value and decreases thereafter. In addition to the shape memory property, the IPNs show a reversible change in optical properties from translucent to opaque. The change in optical properties is quite different from that observed in a semicrystalline polymer system where the transparency increases as a result of the melting of crystals. This behaviour of the IPN is explained in terms of H-bonding of PEO with PHEMA. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to study the H-bonding between PEO and PHEMA. (c) 2019 Society of Chemical Industry