Patent ID: 6331578
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: C08F,C08G,C08J,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of making a sequential interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of at least a first polymer and a second polymer from a first and second component wherein the first component is the first polymer or a polymerizable reactant selected from monomers or pre-polymers polymerizable to the first polymer and mixtures thereof, and the second component is a polymerizable reactant selected from monomers or pre-polymers polymerizable to the second polymer and mixtures thereof, the method comprising the steps of:crosslinking the polymer of the first component or simultaneously crosslinking and polymerizing the polymerizable reactant or pre-polymer of the first component to form a polymer network;forming a reaction mixture of at least the polymer network of the first component, the second component, an initiator or catalyst, and a crosslinker by absorbing the second component, the initiator or catalyst and a crosslinker into the polymer network of the first component, the reaction mixture having a surface;bringing the surface of the reaction mixture in contact with a third component comprising at least each said polymerizable reactant of the second component at a chemical potential similar to the chemical potential of the same reactant in the reaction mixture, and wherein said third component is substantially free of crosslinker and initiator or catalyst;effecting polymerization and crosslinking of polymerizable reactants of the reaction mixture while maintaining said surface in contact with said third component,and recovering the IPN so obtained.