Damping properties of silicone rubber/polyacrylate sequential interpenetrating networks

Silicone rubber/polyacrylate sequential interpenetrating polymer networks(IPNs) were prepared by silicone rubber sheet dipped into the solution composed of different acrylate monomers and benzoyl peroxides(BPOs) for different time at room temperature and then acrylate polymerized at 80 °C for 2 h. The molecular structure and damping properties of sequential IPNs were studied by means of FT-IR and dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA), respectively. The FT-IR spectrum shows that polyacrylate distributes unevenly along the thickness direction of IPNs, i.e. the concentration of polyacrylate decreases from the midst to the surface of the IPNs. The DMA shows that cold crystallization of silicone in the temperature range from −47 °C to −30 °C is reduced and loss factor of IPNs is improved after interpenetrating with polyacrylate. This suggestes that IPNs can be used as damping materials.