Coatings update: Scientific articles

Polymer Structure. A number of articles describe basic research on polymers of interest to the paint industry. Thus Sperling [Journal of Polymer Science, Macromolecular Reviews, 12 (1977) p. 141] describes interpenetrating polymer networks as structures which result when a crosslinked polymer is swelled by a monomer which contains also a crosslinking or polymerising agent. The monomer is thus polymerised in situ, presumably in the voids and intersticies provided by the initial crosslinked polymer. In this way, Sperling describes the morphology and mechanical properties of interpenetrating polymer networks.