• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2003

Dicyanate-clay nanocomposite has been prepared by a melt in-situ polymerization method for different modifiers and cation exchange capacity (CEC) values in order to study dispersion and mechanical property. Various dicyanate nanocomposites were prepared by using different MMT systems containing different intercalants which led to different initial gallery heights and packing density. Depending on compatibility between dicyanate and clays, the degree of dispersion varied. Dispersion of clay plates in dicyanate resin depended mainly on CEC and aliphatic chain length of modifier. The lower CEC and shorter aliphatic chain length of modifier gave the exfoliation structure. It was also found that the reactivity of intercalant with dicyanate resin was one of the key factors facilitating the intercalation/exfoliation process of dicyanate/MMT nanocomposites. Shear modulus of reaction-induced dicyanate nanocomposite was significantly increased.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2002

The morphology, dynamic mechanical behavior and fracture behavior of polyetherimide (PEI)/dicyanate semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) with a morphology spectrum were analyzed. To obtain the morphology spectrum, we disported PEI particles in the procured dicyanate resin containing 300 ppm of zinc stearate catalyst. The semi-IPNs exhibited a morphology spectrum, which consisted of nodular spinodal structure, dual-phase morphology, and sea-island type morphology, in the radial direction of each dispersed PEI particle due to the concentration gradient developed by restricted dissolution and diffusion of the PEI particles during the curing process of the dicyanate resin. Analysis of the dynamic mechanical data obtained by the semi-IPNs demonstrated that the transition of the PEI-rich phase was shifted toward higher temperature as well as becoming broader because of the gradient structure. The semi-IPNs with the morphology spectrum showed improved fracture energy of 0.3 kJ/$m^2$, which was 1.4 times that of the IPNS having sea-island type morphology. It was found that the partially introduced nodular structure played a crucial role in the enhancement of the fracture resistance of the semi-IPNs.