Thermal analyses of polymers. III. Influence of isocyanate structure on the molecular interactions in segmented polyurethanes,

The thermal responses of various polyurethane elastomers in the form of changes in heat capacity, linear expansion, and tensile strain have been examined. Most of the change which can be attributed to the backbone of polyethylene adipate, found in several modes of thermal analysis, are still apparent, though shifted somewhat, among most of the diisocyanate extended elastomers used in this study. Tolylene diisocyanate extension changes the modulus properties markedly, low modulus properties being observed at ambient temperatures. Both hydrogenated MDI and MDI elastomers show comparable expansion and modulus response, whereas the hydrogenated TDI elastomer does not have the same characteristics as TDI-based elastomers. The thermal properties of the hydrogenated TDI elastomer resemble more those exhibited by the polyol mixture extended with hexamethylene diisocyanate, and in addition this latter elastomer exhibits more crystallinity, as shown by the large endotherm in the specific heat measurement. The structure of the diisocyanate naturally changes the behavior of the hard segment.