Poly(urea)urethanes based on amorphous quaternizable hard segments and a crystalline polyol derived from castor oil

A set of poly(urea)urethanes (PUU), with different contents of amorphous hard segment and castor oil-derived crystalline polyol as soft segment, was prepared combining bulk and solution polymerizations. It is shown that both the soft segment crystallinity and hard segment glassy nature control the stiffness of the materials and that phase mixing at intermediate hard segment compositions produces softer materials. Upon yielding, PUU developed large plasticity associated to the nature of soft segments. At longer strains, PUU presented strain-induced crystallization related both to soft segments alignment and crystallization, leading to strong and tough materials, especially with high hard segment content compositions. Despite the hydrophobicity of the soft segments, the PUU with 65 wt% hard segment content was dispersable in water after quaternization with acetic acid. The high amount of urea groups in this quaternized PUU makes one think of these types of polymers as promising water soluble environmentally friendly strong adhesives, coatings, or water soluble polymeric electrolites.