Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of metal-containing polyurethane-ureas from hexadentate Schiff base metal complexes

Metal-containing polyurethane-ureas and copolyurethane-ureas have been synthesized by the reaction between hexadentate Schiff base metal complexes and isocyanate-terminated prepolymers. The metal complexes employed were MSal₂trien, where (M=Ni and Zn, Sal=salicylaldehyde and trien=triethylenetetramine). The NCO-terminated prepolymers used were tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate terminated poly(1,4-butanediol) (PB), tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate terminated poly(propylene glycol) (PP) prepolymers and the prepolymers synthesized from 4,4^′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and diols. The diols employed were polycaprolactone diol (PCL) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO). Copolyurethane-ureas were synthesized by the reaction between MSal₂trien, PB or PP prepolymers and MDI. Characterizations of polymers were carried out using IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, solubility and viscosity. Flammability of polymers was investigated by measuring limiting oxygen index (LOI) values and thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).