Phase morphology of hydrolysable polyurethanes derived from aqueous dispersions

Biodegradable polyurethanes are an interesting alternative to many applications that involve plastics since they can minimize environmental problems caused by the low rates of natural degradation of synthetic polymers. In addition, since waterborne polyurethanes are based on aqueous dispersions, they restrict the use of organic solvents during processing and application of the polymer, thus contributing furthermore to reduce environmental damage. In this work, aqueous anionic polyurethane dispersions (PUD) with tailorable susceptibility for hydrolysis were synthesized by progressively replacing polypropylene glycol (PPG) with a biodegradable polycaprolactone diol (PCL) as soft segments. The hard segments were formed by extending isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) with hydrazine (HZ). Dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) was used as ionic center and triethyl amine (TEA) as neutralizer. The degree of phase separation was evaluated mainly by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results indicated that phase separation between hard and soft segments of poly(ester-urethane) is more significant than that of poly(ether-urethane). Data obtained from SAXS experiments indicated that phase separation within soft domains can also be present in samples containing both polyester and polyether soft segments. Hydrolytic degradation of the polymers in buffer solution of pH 7.4 and alkaline solution was performed as an initial test. The results showed that the fraction of polyester soft segments in the polyurethanes can be used to tailor the susceptibility of the materials to hydrolytic attack. Polyurethanes having higher contents of polyester were more promptly hydrolytically degraded than polyurethanes containing only polyether segments.     

UV curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate dispersions based on hyperbranched aliphatic polyester: effect of molecular structure on physical and thermal properties

A novel waterborne hyperbranched polyurethane acrylate for aqueous dispersions (WHPUDs) based on hydroxy‐functionalized hyperbranched aliphatic polyester Boltorn? H20 was investigated. The effects of structural composition and crosslinking density have been studied in terms of swellability by water, thermal degradation, viscosity changes as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) morphology. The swell ratio showed an increasing trend with the higher concentration of ionic group, which is due to the increased total surface area of particles. The results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for cured WHPUD films indicated good thermal stability with no appreciable weight loss until 200°C. The activation energies were evaluated and were found in the range 154–186 kJ mol^?1. It was observed that an increase in hard segment content provoked the increases in thermal degradation temperature and activation energy of waterborne dispersions. The transmission electron photographs revealed that the average particle sizes of aqueous dispersions were in the range 30–125 nm. Owing to the enlargement of the stabilization site, the particle size decreased as the content of carboxyl group and degree of neutralization increased. The viscosity of WHPUDs increased rapidly with increasing the degree of neutralization. Moreover, water showed a favorable viscosity reduction effect. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and characterization of waterborne poly(urethane urea) with well‐defined hard segments

A series of polyester‐based poly(urethane urea) (PUU) aqueous dispersions with well‐defined hard segments were prepared from polyester polyol, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate, dimethylolpropionic acid, 1,4‐butanediol, isophorone diisocyanate, and ethylenediamine. These anionic‐type aqueous dispersions had good dispersity in water and were stable at the ambient temperature for more than 1 year. For these aqueous dispersions, the particle size decreased as the hard‐segment content increased, and the polydispersity index was very narrow (<1.10). Films prepared with the PUU aqueous dispersions exhibited excellent waterproof performance: the amount of water absorption was as low as 5.0 wt %, and the contact angle of water on the surface of this kind of film was as high as 103° (this led to a hydrophobic surface). The water‐resistant property of these waterborne PUU films could be well correlated with some crystallites and ordered structures of the well‐defined hard segments formed by hydrogen bonding between the urethane/urethane groups and urethane/ester groups, as well as the degree of microphase separation between the hard and soft segments in the PUU systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2606–2614, 2005     

Phosphated polyurethane dispersions: synthesis,emulsification mechanisms and the effect of the neutralising base

Phosphate-containing polyester macroglycols with different phosphate contents were synthesised from a phosphorus-containing monomer, a dicarboxylic acid and a diol. The macroglycols were then used as a soft segment for the preparation of segmented polyurethane dispersions. Aqueous dispersions were made by phase inversion from the organic solvent after the carboxylic acid groups were neutralized. Phase inversion was found to take place in three distinct stages. The stability and particle size of the polyurethane dispersions were dependent of the amount of carboxylic acid groups present, the degree of neutralisation and the neutralising cations. Metal-neutralized polyurethane dispersions gave smaller particle sizes and the corresponding films showed higher swelling in water due to the ease of hydration. The particle size and stability of the tertiary amine-neutralised polyurethanes were found to be related to the water solubility of the amines at a given dispersion temperature. Particle size increases for the higher alkyl chain neutalising amines due to the poor hydration of the corresponding cations.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Physicomechanical Properties of Novel Water-based Biodegradable Polyurethane Dispersion

Novel water-based biodegradable polyurethane dispersions with an aim to develop environmentally friendly materials, including medicine, various industries, have been prepared in this study. Biodegradable ionic polyurethanes (IPU) were synthesized based on polyols from renewable resources, such as castor oil (CO), in the presence of a polyester polyol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with hydrophilic property and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate. 1,4-Butanediol and dibutyltin dilaurate, were used as a chain extender and catalyst, respectively. The comprehensive investigations of the structure and properties of five types of synthesized polyurethanes demonstrated biodegradability relationship of these polyurethanes with their structure and composition. In this research effects of different types and content of polyols on biodegradability and physico mechanical properties of prepared PUDs were investigated. The structure, properties and physico mechanical and application behavior of mentioned materials were characterized by ¹H NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The adhesion properties were measured by pull off test as well. Particle size was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) methods. The biodegradability of prepared polyurethane dispersions was confirmed by water uptake, hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) with lipase enzyme in PBS. Results showed that by the incorporation of natural components into the polymer chain, adjusting of hydrophilic and hydrolytic liability properties of soft segments and especial relevant designs, useful polyurethane can be synthesized with desirable property of biodegradability and dispersion stability. Except for one sample, other samples were decomposed totally in enzymatic media.     

聚乙二醇型聚氨酯软硬段对其相变储热性能的影响

以不同分子量的聚乙二醇(PEG)为软段,MDI-BDO为硬段,采用两步法溶液聚合合成一种具有固-固相变储热性能的聚氨酯材料.通过DSC,WAXD等测试手段对体系的软硬段结晶性,微相分离,相变可逆性及循环热稳定性进行研究,结果表明,聚氨酯中硬段的存在对软段结晶有着很大的影响,当软段分子量达到2000或以上时,软段才具有较大的结晶度和熔融相变焓,且硬段含量必须高于一定值才能形成较为完善的物理交联网络以保证材料在发生相变时维持固体状态.同时符合这两个条件的试样能具有较好的固-固相变储热性能.就软段PEG含量及分子量对材料储热性能的影响进行了研究,通过调节软段含量与分子量得到一系列具有不同相变焓和相变温度的聚氨酯固-固相变储热材料.经测试还发现,该材料具备很好的相变可逆性和循环热稳定性,是一类很有开发前景的相变储热材料.     

软段含羧基的水性聚氨酯物性研究

合成了单官能团小分子物质封端的软硬段皆含羧基的脂环族水性聚氨酯(PU),研究了反离子种类、固含量、外加小分子盐/酸、pH值对水性PU的粘度、粒径、CMC和电导率的影响,同时,比较了不同软段分子量水性PU分散液pH临界值和CMC的差异.实验结果表明,随固含量升高,PU分散液体系粘度增大,当固含量为30wt%时,粘度比固含量20wt%的体系粘度增大约20倍;随小分子盐NaCl的加入,PU分散液电粘滞效应逐渐消失,电导率呈现先减小后增大的趋势,随NaCl的加入/软段分子量提高,PU分散体系的CMC值减小,钙离子对PU粒子扩散双电层的破坏作用更加明显.随pH值的增大,PU分散液体系粒径减小,电导率则升高,随软段分子量提高,pH临界值增大,PU分散体对外加小分子酸存在缓冲作用.     

Gas permeability of cupric ion containing HTPB based polyurethane membranes

For the purpose of oxygen enrichment from air, the gas permeability and selectivity of an ionic polyurethane membrane was under investigation. Membranes of ionic polyurethane were prepared by step-growth polymerization of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI). The ionic group was introduced by adding N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) as the chain extender of which the tertiary amines were complexed with cupric ions. The effect of hard segment content, polymerization method, peroxide introduction, and the amount of cupric ion on gas permeability were investigated. It was found that the binding of hard segment and the flexibility of soft segments had subtle effects on gas permeability. Membranes of the same composition were synthesized through two different procedures, one- and two-stage polymerization. The former contains large hard segment of cluster aggregation and flexible soft segments had a higher gas permeation rate. When a crosslinker, benzoyl peroxide, was added, the crosslinkage within soft segments hindered cluster formation by hard segment aggregation, the permeability increased. Furthermore, CuCl₂ addition enhanced hard segment aggregation, more hard segments formed cluster aggregates and less dispersed in soft segment region, which also increased permeability. However, excess CuCl₂ addition resulted in CuCl₂ piling up in the soft segment region, which restricted the movement of soft segments and therefore reduced the gas permeability.     

Effect of the content of urea groups on the particle size in water-borne polyurethane or polyurethane/polyacrylate dispersions

A series of anionic water-borne polyurethane and polyurethane/polyacrylate dispersions and their paint films was prepared. It was found by using TEM that there were three phases in the polyurethane/polyacrylate film, i.e. the hard segment-rich phase and the soft segment-rich phase of polyurethane, and the polyacrylate phase. By increasing the content of urea groups, the glass transition temperature of the soft segments and the dissociation temperature of the long-distance ordering of the hard segments were raised. This should mean that the motion of macromolecular chains was hindered by increasing the content of urea groups, and the hydrophilic carboxyl groups embedded initially in macromolecular coils could thus not transfer easily to the particle surface, which resulted in a greater average particle size in the dispersion.     

Effect of soft segment length on properties of fluorinated polyurethanes

The effects of soft segment length on the variations in morphology, surface composition, and hydrophilicity have been studied in fluorinated polyurethanes (FPUs) and correlated with their preliminary blood compatibility as evidenced by in vitro platelet adhesion experiments. The fluorinated polyurethanes were obtained using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and chain extender of 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1,4-butanediol (TF) as the hard segment as well as various soft segments—polytetramethyl oxides (PTMO) with molecular weights of 650, 1000, 1400, and 2000. The increased phase separation in hard-segment domains with lengthening soft segment was observed by FT-IR, which is believed to result in enhanced strength of hydrogen bonds and good hard-segment order arrangement. Thin-film XRD results indicate at least three lateral distances existing between adjacent hard segments in the crystallized hard segment. Their distribution depends strongly on the length of soft segment. Lengthening soft segment promotes the formation of dense arrangement of crystallized hard segments. Compared with the effect of phase separation, surface composition was found to exert a major influence on the preliminary blood compatibility of fluorinated polyurethanes. Increasing fluorine content by decreasing soft segment length promotes reduction in platelet adhesion and activation on polyurethane surfaces.     

Structure and physical properties of segmented polyurethane elastomers containing chemical crosslinks in the hard segment

Two series of segmented polyurethanes, one containing 50% soft segments and the other with 70% soft segments were synthesized. Chemical crosslinks were introduced through the hard segment in a controlled way. Chemical polyurethane networks were characterized by swelling. The effect of the degree of crosslinking on properties was examined. It was found that chemical crosslinks in the hard segment reduce the mobility of the soft phase and destroy the crystallinity of the hard phase, but they improve heat stability of the hard domains. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 221–235, 1998     

Biodegradation of polyurethanes and nanocomposites to non-cytotoxic degradation products

Polyurethanes with controllable biodegradable properties have been considered for biomedical applications. However, the potential toxicity of their biodegraded by-products is still a concern. In this study, biodegradable polyurethanes based on poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) and/or poly(ethylene glycol) as soft segments and biodegradable polyurethanes containing montmorillonite nanoparticles were synthesized and were subjected to in vitro biodegradation for 4 months. The post-degraded polyurethanes and nanocomposites were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The toxicity of the biodegradation by-products was evaluated by measuring their effect on the viability of retinal cells. FTIR results indicated that hard segments of the biomaterials were preserved during biodegradation, and suggested that the ester bonds of the PCL incorporated into the soft segments were hydrolytic broken. XRD data indicated also that the soft segments crystallized as a result of the hydrolysis of PCL ester bonds and re-organization of the amorphous phase during annealing at 37 °C. As the biodegradation of the biomaterials induced the formation of soft segment lamella crystals, a complex nanostructure was formed, resulting in the enhancement of the small angle X-ray scattering. The by-products were non-cytotoxic to the retinal cells. These results suggest that the hydrolytic unstable polyurethanes and nanocomposites can be possible candidates for ophthalmological applications.     

单组分聚氨酯清漆的制备与性能研究

不同的聚碳酸酯二元醇、聚四亚甲基醚二醇(PTMG)与二苯甲烷二异氰酸酯(MDI)、小分子二元醇反应,制得聚醚、聚碳酸酯型聚氨酯清漆。通过红外光谱分析结合其机械力学性能、耐水性等的测试结果,探讨聚碳酸酯型聚氨酯清漆的结构对形态和性能的影响。结果表明：随着硬段含量的增加,树脂涂膜的微相分离程度增加,机械性能提高;组分摩尔比例相同时,软段分子量的降低有利于提高树脂的软硬段相容性,增加树脂涂膜的物理机械性能;组分摩尔比例相同时聚酯型聚氨酯树脂的微相分离程度低于聚醚型聚氨酯树脂;MDI基溶剂型聚氨酯树脂的物理机械性能较好。     

Segmented polyurethanes with 4,4′-bis-(6-hydroxyhexoxy)biphenyl as chain extender. Part 2. Synthesis and properties of MDI-polyurethanes in comparison with 2,4-TDI-polyurethanes

Linear segmented polyurethanes based on poly(butylene adipate)s (PBA) of different molecular weight (M_n 2000, 1000, and 600), 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and the mesogenic diol 4,4′-bis-(6-hydroxyhexoxy)biphenyl (BHHBP) as well as the unsegmented polyurethane consisting of MDI/BHHBP units have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹³C-NMR and SEC. The thermal behavior and the morphology were studied by DSC, polarizing microscopy, and DMA. The properties of the MDI-polyurethanes were discussed in relation to the BHHBP chain extended 2,4-TDI-polyurethanes and common 1,4-butanediol chain-extended MDI products. MDI polyurethanes based on PBA (M_n 2000) exhibit a glass transition temperature T_g of about −40°C independent of the hard segment content up to ∼50% hard segments. At higher hard segment contents increasing T_gs were observed. Polyurethanes, based on the shorter polyester soft segments PBA (M_n 1000 or 600), reveal an increase in the glass transition temperatures with growing hard segment content. The thermal transitions caused by melting of the MDI/BHHBP hard segment domains are found at 50 K higher temperatures in comparison with the analogous TDI products with mesogenic BHHBP/TDI hard segments. Shortening of the PBA chain length causes a shift of the thermal transitions to lower temperatures. Polarizing microscopy experiments indicate that liquid crystalline behavior is influenced by both the content of mesogenic hard segments and the chain length of the polyester. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

具有明确硬段结构的水性聚氨酯脲的研究

通过逐步反应由4,4′-二苯基甲烷二异氰酸酯、2,2-二羟甲基丙酸和1,4-丁二醇,合成了结构明确的硬段模型化合物.通过13C NMR对其序列结构进行了表征,并通过FTIR、DSC和WAXD对其形态结构进行了研究.进一步制备了具有这类规整结构硬段的水性聚氨酯脲,初步考察了水分散液及其成膜后的性能.实验结果表明,这类聚氨酯脲水分散液的粒径小于110nm,在室温下贮存期大于一年,成膜后具有优异的耐水性能以及表面疏水性能.     

Morphology of polyurethanes with triol monomer crosslinked on hard segments

Polyester‐based polyurethanes containing ≈60 wt % of polyester were synthesized from low molecular weight polyester (M_n ≈2000) and 4,4′‐methylene bis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI), with butanediol as a chain extender and glycerol as a crosslinker. The triol crosslinker was used in substitution for the 1,4‐butanediol chain extender; thus, the crosslinker was chemical bonded to the hard segments of polyurethane. The morphologies of these polyurethanes were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), TMA (thermal mechanical analysis), and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). Owing to the highly steric hindrance, the presence of triol crosslinker in the hard segments resulted in a decrease in the aggregation of hard segments through hydrogen bonding. The experimental results revealed that the degree of phase segregation of soft and hard segments decreased with increasing the triol crosslinker content in the hard segments. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2673–2681, 1999     

Effect of polyester zigzag structure on the phase segregation of polyester-based polyurethanes

Polyester-based polyurethanes were synthesized from 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) with butanediol as a chain extender and low molecular weight polyester–diol as a soft segment. Two polyesters were used in the synthesis of polyurethanes. One of the polyesters was synthesized from adipic acid and 1,6-hexanediol, which had an even number of carbon atoms. The other polyester was synthesized from pimelic acid and 1,5-pentanediol, which had an odd number of carbon atoms. The effect of even carbon monomers and odd carbon monomers of polyester soft segments on the phase segregation of soft and hard segments was studied by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2095–2104, 1999     

Polycaprolactone based biodegradable polyurethanes

Two series of segmented polyurethanes were prepared with systematic variation in soft and hard segment length. The soft segment was constituted by polycaprolactone (PCL) blocks of molecular masses 530 or 2000 and the hard segment (HS) by urethane blocks, in a concentration that varied from 12% to 44% in weight of the whole polyurethane. Morphological analyses indicated that the amount of crystallinity of copolymers was strongly dependent on the PCL molar mass and hard segment content. The copolymers with longer PCL soft segments (Mn=2000) were semicrystalline, but those with shorter PCL segment (Mn=530) were unable to crystallize. The primary factor affectingthe biodegradability of copolymers as evaluated by Sturm tests was the extent of the phase separation, and that the segmental blending of the less biodegradable polyurethane (HS) blocks with PCL in the amorphous phase had a critical unfavorable consequence, which may be attributed to the size of the accessible area by microorganisms.     

聚氨酯硬链段球晶生长与软硬链锻混容性的关系

线型可溶性聚氨酯的硬链段结晶难以长成球晶 ,然而本实验室已经证明即使从熔体结晶硬链段也是能够长成球晶的 .研究了聚酯与聚醚型聚氨酯硬链段长球晶的规律 ,并发现聚氨酯硬链段长球晶的难易与聚氨酯软硬链段混容性密切相关 .动态力学分析 (DMA)与示差扫描量热 (DSC)实验表明聚ε 已内酯 (PCL)、聚已二酸丁二醇酯 (PTMA)、聚四氢呋喃 (PTMO)及聚环氧丙烷 (PPO)型聚氨酯的软硬链段混容性从前至后递减 .从熔体退火结晶时 ,聚氨酯硬链段长成球晶的退火温度范围是有限的 ,软硬链段混容性越好 ,聚氨酯硬链段能长成球晶的温度范围越窄 ,所需长的时间越长 .聚氨酯硬链段长球晶的下限温度取决于软硬链段间所存在的氢键作用 ,聚氨酯硬链段长球晶的上限温度与软硬链段混容性直接相关 .     

Structure–property study of waterborne,polyurethane acrylate dispersions based on hyperbranched aliphatic polyester for UV-curable coatings

A series of waterborne, hyperbranched polyurethane acrylates for aqueous dispersions (WHPUDs) based on hydroxy-functionalized hyperbranched aliphatic polyester Boltorn H20 were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The aqueous dispersions were electrostatically stabilized with carboxyl groups incorporated into their structures, which were neutralized by triethylamine (TEA). The effects of chemical structures of end groups on various properties of WHPUDs, such as particle size, interfacial tension, and rheological behavior were investigated. The average particle sizes of aqueous dispersions, 43–237 nm, were determined by laser light scattering. Owing to the enlargement of the stabilization site, the particle size decreased as the content of carboxyl group, degree of neutralization, and dielectric constant of the dispersion medium increased. Moreover, the surface tension of aqueous dispersions of WHPUDs decreased as the TEA/COOH mole ratio and degree of neutralization increased. The investigations of the rheological behavior of the WHPUDs suggested that all the dispersions belong to pseudoplastic fluids, and each of them has viscosity much lower compared with the commercial water-based resin EB 2002.