Preparation, morphology, and thermoelectric property studies of BaTiO₃ superfine fiber/castor oil polyurethane-based IPN nanocomposites

A series of castor oil polyurethane/poly(methyl methacrylate) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) and gradient IPNs, cured at room temperature, were prepared by a simultaneous IPN method. The polymerization processes were traced through IR techniques; results for the morphology and miscibility among multiple phases of materials, obtained by transmission electron microscopy, indicated that the systems belonged to graft-mode IPNs, and the domains between two phases were controlled on a nanometer scale. Thermomechanical analysis detection results showed that through interpenetration between networks, the glass-transition temperatures of the systems could be linked up effectively. Furthermore, the systems were combined with selected barium titanate super-fine fibers. The composite techniques were determined, and the thermoelectric and mechanical properties were examined in detail.