Synthesis and thermo-mechanical characterization of high performance polyurethane elastomers based on heterocyclic and aromatic diamine chain extenders

Two series of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and poly(ethylene glycol adipate) (PEGA)-based polyurethane and polyurethaneurea elastomers were synthesized via a one-shot polymerization method and characterized using FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The samples in the first series are extended by aliphatic diol chain extenders while in the second series mixtures of aliphatic diols and furanic or aromatic diamine chain extenders are used. TGA experiments revealed that with furanic or aromatic diamine chain extenders the polymer degradation temperature is shifted 90 °C upwards, irrespective of the annealing time at 100 °C according to ASTM 0573-99. The values of Young's modulus and of the tensile strength are higher and the strain at break is lower for the samples in series 2 compared to those in series 1. Increasing the annealing time at 100 °C lowers Young's modulus. Dynamic mechanical thermal analyses points to a progressive microphase separation with annealing time.