Synthesis and characterisation of simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks (SIN) formed by polystyrene and polyurethane obtained from castor oil and cassava starch polyol-suspensions

Abstract

Castor oil was modified by transesteritication with pentaerythritol and cassava starch was subsequently incorporated into this oil (oil modified by incorporating starch is called a polyol-suspension). Polyurethane/polystyrene SINs (simultaneously produced IPNs) were synthesized from them and styrene. Reactants used in the synthesis were MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) as diisocyanate, DVB (divinylbenzene) as crosslinking agent for polystyrene, dibutylamine as redox primer and benzoyl peroxide as styrene polymerisation primer. The variables considered in SIN synthesis were percentage weight ratio used in the modification (1.32%; 2.64% and 5.28%) to increase polyol hydroxyl functionality, starch species incorporated into polyol (Brazilian, Venezuelan and commercial) to vary the amount of amylopectin within the polyol-suspension, diisocyanate/hydroxyl NCO/OH (0.85 and 1) functional groups’ molar ratio and polyurethane/ polystyrene PU/PS weight ratio (70/30 and 80/20). A wide range of materials was obtained and characterised by tensile strength, hardness, chemical attack and Soxhlet extraction. The physical-mechanical properties of the materials produced with polyols (transesterified castor oil) were improved when starch was incorporated into the polyol. Several tests indicated that 24 hours as curing time were not enough, because the SINs showed lower physical-mechanical properties than the homologous polyurethane elastomers did; thus, the curing time had to be increased to 48 hours.