Mechanical behavior during different weathering tests of the polyurethane elastomers films

Segmented poly(ester-urethane)elastomers (PU) based on poly(ethylene diethylene adipate) diols as a soft segment and aromatic diisocyanates in the hard segment were synthesized by a conventional method. The precipitated and compact polyurethane films have been degraded after a limited exposure to natural weathering. The effects on mechanical properties of precipitated and compact polyurethane films were found to be a measure of the degradation due to weathering. The present study attempts to correlate the physical-mechanical properties of the precipitated polyurethane and compact films with time of weathering. In all cases a certain amount of oxidative change had been initiated. This was probably associated with enzyme adsorption on surfaces. We compared natural weathering of PU films carried out in earth, seawater and exposure to sunlight with untreated samples. In common with other weathering tests, the effect was to decrease the ultimate tensile strain, except seawater. It was found that enzymatic degradation in the earth occurred only after, the ageing process was continuous and practically linear with a relatively short initial period of increase in degradation rate.     

Synthesis of transparent thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers

Thermoplastic polyurethanes were synthesized from poly(propylene glycol)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) polyols and hybrid hard segments that combined at least two different chain extenders. The combination of hard segments allowed for modification of elastomer performance and processing not achievable by any single hard segment. The combination of hard segments modulated hard‐segment energies that were directly related to elastomer performance. Special attention is paid to obtaining optically transparent elastomers with this technique. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 271–278, 2004     

Comparison between properties of polyether polytriazole elastomers and polyether polyurethane elastomers

In order to explore the application of click chemistry in the field of elastomer materials, the comparison between the properties of polyurethane and polytriazole elastomers has been carried out. Propargyl‐terminated ethylene oxide‐tetrahydrofuran copolymer (PTPET) has been prepared from the ethylene oxide‐tetrahydrofuran copolymer (PET) by end modification. Using polyisocyanate N100 and polyazide compounds as cross‐linkers, PET polyurethane and PTPET polytriazole elastomers have been prepared through urethane and copper‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne huisgen [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition reactions, respectively. Mechanical properties indicate that, to be different from those of polyurethane elastomers, the modulus E and stress σ_b of polytriazole elastomers increase at first, and then decrease with the increase in R. At around the stoichiometric ratio, the modulus E and stress σ_b reach a maximum, and the strain ε_b reaches a minimum. Swelling tests demonstrate that the M_c of polytriazole elastomers has a minimum value at the stoichiometric ratio. The dynamic mechanical analysis indicates that both polyurethane and polytriazole elastomers have the same glass transition temperature of ?64°C, although polytriazole elastomers exhibit lower dissipation factor tan δ. Thermal analysis shows that polytriazole elastomers have better thermal stability than polyurethane elastomers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal decomposition of polyurethane elastomers containing antipyrene

Thermal analysis, IR and emission spectroscopy were used to study the influence of phosphorus and phosphorus/chlorine-containing antipyrenes on the thermal decomposition of polyurethane elastomers based on 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and polytetraoxymethylene. The introduction of P-containing antipyrene into the structure of polyurethane elastomers induces changes in the mechanism and kinetics of thermal decomposition towards inactivation of the exothermal reactions of oxidative decomposition. It causes a shift of the first exothermal peak towards higher temperatures by 100° and helps the formation of temporarily stabilized structures. P/Cl-containing antipyrene has a smaller positive effect towards inactivation of the exothermal decomposition reactions and the formation of temporarily stabilized structures.     

Surface characteristics of chitin-based shape memory polyurethane elastomers

Shape memory polyurethanes (SMPUs) were prepared from polycaprolactone diol 4000 (PCL 4000), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), chitin, dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), triethylamine (TEA) and 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), and the structures of the synthesized materials were verified by infrared spectroscopy. The effects of chitin and DMPA contents in the polyurethane formulation on surface properties were investigated. DMPA provides function of making hydrophilic polyurethanes. The crystalline structure of chitin enhanced the hydrophobicity of the synthesized materials. Contact angle, water absorption, surface free energy, work of water adhesion and swelling behavior of the synthesized polyurethanes were affected by varying the DMPA and chitin contents. The interactions of the PU films with solvents on the surface were clearly related to the contents of DMPA and chitin in the final polyurethane formulation.     

Synthesis and properties of room-temperature self-healing polyurethane elastomers

Two kinds of polyurethane elastomers were synthesized. One containing acylhydrazone bonds was named TPIA. The other containing both acylhydrazone and disulfide bonds was named TPID. Self-repairable ability and reprocessability of these two elastomers were studied. The results show that: The polyurethane elastomer TPIA can automatically repair damage to it under acidic conditions. After self-healing for 24 h, the strength and the elongation value at break recovered to 32% and 55% of the originality, respectively. The polyurethane elastomer TPID can automatically repair damage to it under visible light at room temperature. After 24 h of self-healing time, 75% of the original strength and 100% of the original elongation values at break were obtained. These two polyurethane elastomers can be reprocessed in their cured state by just applying temperature and pressure.     

Polycarbonate-based polyurethane elastomers: temperature-dependence of tensile properties

Novel polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers were prepared from polycarbonate diols, butane-1,4-diol (chain extender) and hexamethylene diisocyanate. They differ in the kind of macrodiol used and the ratio of macrodiol to chain extender OH groups (hence, in hard segment contents). The tensile properties of the elastomers at low and elevated temperatures were determined and discussed with regard to polyurethane composition and polycarbonate diol structure.     

Physical and chemical cross-linking effects in polyurethane elastomers

A series of polyester-urethane block copolymers of various molecular weights was prepared via a two-step polymerization process. The prepolymer composition was kept constant in all the samples, while the NCO/OH ratio during the chain extension was varied from 0.9 to 1.2. Chemical and physical cross-linking effects were studied by means of F.T.I.R spectroscopy, swelling, and elastic behavior. Equilibrium stress-strain measurements and tensile-retraction tests were carried out to examine the elastomeric behavior of the materials tested. The extent of agreement between microscopic and macroscopic behavior was then evaluated.     

Glass microballoons: Filling agents for polyurethane elastomers

Combustibility of polyurethanes in the presence of inert filling agents: glass microballoons of a sodiumborosilicate nature, was studied. The expediency of their use in the composition of elastomers for reduction of fire danger was considered, and the effect of glass materials on their mechanical characteristics was studied.     

Hard-segment polymorphism in MDI/diol-based polyurethane elastomers

X-ray analyses of methylene-bis(4)phenyl isocynate(MDI)/diol/poly(tetramethylene adipate) polyurethane elastomers prepared using hexanediol (HDO), butanediol (BDO), and propanediol (PDO) point to the development of a second crystalline structure in the hard segments as a result of thermal elongation and annealing. The HDO polymer crystallizes initially in the fully extended conformation, but a second crystal structure, a contracted form, develops with stretching and annealing at 130°C. In contrast, the BDO and PDO polymers crystallize initially in contracted conformation, but fully extended forms develop as a result of elongation and annealing. Only a contracted conformation has been seen so far in hard segments prepared using ethylene glycol (EDO) as the chain extender. These results correlate very well with DSC data for the same polymers. The development of the new crystal structures is accompanied by the appearance of new hard-segment melting peaks in the DSC traces. For the HDO polymer, the new peak for the contracted form appears at a higher temperature than that for the original extended form; for the BDO and PDO polymers the new peaks for the extended forms appear at lower temperatures than those for the contracted forms. Only a single peak is seen for the EDO polymer, for which only one crystal structure has been detected for the hard segments. These results indicate that the development of polymorphic crystal structures must be taken into account in interpreting the multiple melting phenomena seen for the hard domains in polyurethane elastomers.     

Thermal analysis of the structure of segmented polyurethane elastomers

Polyurethanes were prepared from 4,4′-methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI), 1,4-butanediol (BD), and poly(tetrahydrofurane) polyether polyol (PTHF) by melt polymerization. The –OH functional group ratio of polyol/total diol was kept constant at 0.4, while the ratio of the isocyanate and hydroxyl groups (NCO/OH) changed between 0.940 and 1.150. The thermal analysis of the polymers by DSC and DMTA measurements indicated several transitions. The three glass transition temperatures observed were assigned to the relaxation of the aliphatic –CH₂– groups of the polyol, and to that of the soft and hard segments, respectively. The glass transition temperature of the soft and hard phase changed with the NCO/OH ratio indicating changes in phase structure and composition confirmed also by the maximum in the number of relaxing soft segments. Changes in the relatively small number of end-groups result in considerable modification of mechanical properties. Strength is determined by molecular mass and interactions, while stiffness depends mainly on phase structure. Surprisingly enough, –OH excess yields stiffer polymers, since the interaction of the –OH groups results in a decrease in the amount of the soft phase. A unique correlation was found between tensile modulus and the number of relaxing soft segments.     

Tensile deformation behaviour of the polymer phase of flexible polyurethane foams and polyurethane elastomers

The change in micromorphology of the polymer phase (single strut) of a flexible polyurethane foam during deformation has been investigated by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy - linear dichroism and by atomic force microscopy. Deformation and, therefore, orientation take place mainly in the soft rubbery phase. This two-phase elastic deformation process has been translated into a mathematical model, which correctly predicts the shape of a single-strut stress-strain curve. The theory also predicts the ultimate shape of stress-strain curves of polyurethane elastomers at various hard phase contents and of low-density polyethylene at various temperatures. Deviations from the elastic behaviour could be ascribed to yielding in combination with the rubbery behaviour.     

Thermal degradation studies of polyurethane/POSS nanohybrid elastomers

Reported here is the synthesis of a series of polyurethane/POSS nanohybrid elastomers, the characterisation of their thermal stability and degradation behaviour at elevated temperatures using a combination of thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and thermal volatilisation analysis (TVA). A series of PU elastomer systems have been formulated incorporating varying levels of 1,2-propanediol-heptaisobutyl-POSS (PHIPOSS) as a chain extender unit, replacing butane diol. The bulk thermal stability of the nanohybrid systems has been characterised using TGA. Results indicate that covalent incorporation of POSS into the PU elastomer network increases the non-oxidative thermal stability of the systems. TVA analysis of the thermal degradation of the POSS/PU hybrid elastomers have demonstrated that the hybrid systems are indeed more thermally stable when compared to the unmodified PU matrix; evolving significantly reduced levels of volatile degradation products and exhibiting a ∼30 °C increase in onset degradation temperature. Furthermore, characterisation of the distribution of degradation products from both unmodified and hybrid systems indicate that the inclusion of POSS in the PU network is directly influencing the degradation pathways of both the soft and hard-block components of the elastomers: The POSS/PU hybrid systems show reduced levels of CO, CO₂, water and increased levels of THF as products of thermal degradation.     

Hard-segment domain sizes in MDI/diol polyurethane elastomers

Wide-angle x-ray line broadening methods have been used to determine the crystallite size and degree of distortion for the crystalline hard domains in MDI/diol polyurethane elastomers. Crystallite widths have been determined from the integral breadths of the 00l reflections following correction for distortions of the second kind according to the method Hosemann for polymers prepared using ethylene glycol, propandiol, butandiol, and hexandiol as the chain extender. These data relate to the width of the crystallites along the chain axis and thus can be interpreted in terms of the morphology of the hard domains. The crystallite sizes increase and the distortions decrease with increasing elongation and annealing time, and the sizes tend toward asymptotic values which correspond approximately to the average lengths of the hard-segment chains. These results rule out any appreciable folding of the hard-segment chains and point to a model for the hard domains formed by lateral aggregation of extended hard segments.     

Crack growth in medical-grade silicone and polyurethane ether elastomers

One major problem with ball and socket artificial discs is the migration of wear particles to the surrounding tissues. This debris can cause inflammation that can lead to implant loosening. Encapsulating the artificial disc with an elastomer sheath could prevent this problem by retaining the wear particles within the disc. The encapsulation sheath will face millions of tensile cycles during the implant life and, therefore, it must have the ability to withstand large strains without fracture. Using cyclic displacement, crack nucleation was applied on dumbbell specimens and crack growth was applied on rectangular specimens with an initial crack. Both tests were performed on Silex silicone and polyurethane ether elastomer specimens, both with a Shore durometer hardness of 40 shore A. No samples completely failed during the crack nucleation tests after five million cycles. The polyurethane ether elastomer showed a slower rate of crack growth life (421 k cycles to reach 70 mm crack length) than silicone elastomer (221 k cycles to reach the same crack length) in the control group. Accelerated ageing decreased the hardness and the crack growth rate of the polyurethane elastomer but had the opposite effect for the silicone elastomer. Gamma sterilization increased the crack growth rate and did not affect the hardness of the polyurethane elastomer. The hardness and the crack growth rate of the silicone elastomer were increased after gamma sterilization.     

Novel polycarbonate-based polyurethane elastomers: Composition–property relationship

Novel all-aliphatic polycarbonate-based polyurethane (PC-PU) elastomers, as well as PC-PU nanocomposites filled with organic-modified clays were synthesized, characterized and studied. It was found that they have very attractive mechanical properties (e.g., elongation at break between 600% and 800%). The prepared PC-PUs possess a distinctly segmented structure, which is the key prerequisite for their behavior as strong physical rubbery networks. All synthesized materials melt at elevated temperatures (between 110 and 200 °C) and hence can be processed like normal thermoplastics. The dispersion of the clay nanofiller was achieved by its one day swelling in the alcohol and a brief successive stirring. This procedure is very successful and leads to a partial exfoliation of the clay (documented by X-ray diffraction and TEM). The best nanocomposites with very good tensile properties, particularly with significantly increased moduli were obtained using the bentonite nanofiller. The study shows that the nanofiller interacts strongly with the hard domains and influences their melting temperature (DMTA and DSC), but it does not affect the glass transition temperature of soft domains. While Cloisite 15A was found to interact preferentially with the hard domains, the organic modified bentonite shows a strong interaction with both soft and hard segments, behaving as a blending agent. Hard domains in neat matrices, formed by hydrogen bonding of hard segments, were practically invisible by X-ray or TEM, but were successfully detected by AFM. Besides excellent mechanical properties, the prepared elastomers and their nanocomposites showed an interesting phase behavior (which was studied by combining DMTA and modulated DSC).     

Aggregation structure and mechanical properties of functionally graded polyurethane elastomers

Functionally graded polyurethane elastomers (FGPUEs) were prepared with two molds fixed at different temperatures (30 and 150 °C). The effects of the molar ratio of the curing agent (60/40, 75/25, or 97/3 1,4‐butane diol/1,1,1‐trimethylol propane) and the molecular weight of the polymer glycol (number‐average molecular weight = 2000 or 3000) on the molecular aggregation state and mechanical properties of the FGPUEs were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, dynamic viscoelastic measurements, and tensile tests. The aggregation state of the FGPUEs was changed continuously from the one side (lower temperature side) to the other side (higher temperature side); for example, the glass‐transition temperature gradually increased in this direction. Also, the number of spherulites formed in the FGPUEs increased in the same manner. In the mechanical tests, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the lower temperature side were higher than those of the higher temperature side. This was correlated with the strong phase separation of the lower temperature side. The poly(oxytetramethylene glycol)‐based FGPUE with a chain extender of 75 wt % showed the largest degree of the temperature gradient. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2355–2363, 2003     

Ternary phase separation in polyurethane elastomers with immiscible soft segments

Polyurethane elastomers with two immiscible hard-segment polyols have been synthesized from homogeneous prepolymer mixtures, to obtain incompatibility on a molecular scale from reaction driven phase separation. Miscibility of a series of different soft-segment polyols and of their prepolymers with 4,4′-diisocyanatodiphenyl methane (MDI) has been investigated by cloud point analysis. UCST-behavior was observed for all binary combinations of polyols and of prepolymers; prepolymer formation lowered UCST with respect to polyols with the option to adjust it by further addition of MDI. Polyurethane elastomers have been synthesized and characterized with respect to their thermal, mechanical and viscoelastic (DMTA) behavior. Broad temperature ranges of loss factor above 0.1 were observed from polyurethanes with two immiscible soft-segment polyols. Rebound resilience, however, was still significant at room temperature, because of the low transition temperatures of the polyols used. Introduction of a third partially miscible component, a hard-segment from tetraethyleneglycol and MDI gave materials with a loss factor above 0.1 over a temperature range from −50 to 120 °C and higher. The studies proved that the concept of intimate mixing of immiscible soft-segments in polyurethanes works for the design of viscoelastic materials with good damping properties.