Mechanical properties of solvolysis lignin-derived polyurethanes

In order to study the tensile properties of solvolysis lignin polyurethanes, polyurethane (PU) films were prepared from the solvolysis lignin (SL)–polyethylene glycol (PEG)–diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) system, and in addition to this further PU films were also prepared from the SL–MDI system. In the SL–PEG-MDI system, the SL content, the molecular weight of PEG and the NCO:OH ratio were varied in order to control the physical properties. The tensile stress and Young's modulus of the PUs of the SL–PEG–MDI type increased with increasing SL content and NCO:OH ratio. The tensile properties of the PUs from the SL–MDI system showed no NCO:OH ratio dependency; i.e. the mechanical properties of PUs are not influenced by the change in crosslinking. It is possible to control the tensile properties of PUs of the SL–PEG–MDI type by changing the content of PEG and SL at a constant NCO:OH ratio.