Structure-property relationships of miscible semi-interpenetrating network with high-strength and high-toughness composed of rubber and plastics

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K05204
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 35020:Polymer materials-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Osaka Noboru 岡山理科大学, 理学部, 准教授 (80550334)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 相互侵入高分子網目 / セミ相互侵入高分子網目 / 高強度化・強靭化・高弾性化 / 階層構造解析 / 構造物性相関

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By blending and crosslinking acrylic rubber (ACM) with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a crystalline fluoropolymer, the normally conflicting properties of rubber, strength and toughness, were simultaneously and significantly enhanced. We also found that ACM and PVDF were miscible when PVDF was melted, and partially miscible in the amorphous region of PVDF after crystallization of PVDF. This phase transition transformed the blend rubber from a semi-interpenetrating polymer network to a fully interpenetrating polymer network. In-situ X-ray analysis during stretching showed that the crystallinity of PVDF decreased during stretching, and that this partial destruction of the crystalline structure caused the blend rubber to become ductile and improved its mechanical properties.

Free Research Field

高分子物理化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ゴムと結晶性樹脂を部分的に相溶させるという報告例のほとんどない系を実現し、破断強度が20 MPaを超え汎用樹脂の物性値に匹敵するほど大幅に向上することを見出した。また、詳細な階層構造解析を実施することでその機構解明を行うことができた。また、ゴムの力学物性を向上させるだけではなく得られた知見に基づいて結晶化を利用したゴムの接着を提案するなど持続可能な社会の実現にも貢献する広範な成果を得ることができた。