Synthesis of Flexible Elastomeric Polyurethane Films with High Elasticity and Evaluation of Their Structural Permanency

Flexible elastomeric polyurethane (EPU) films were synthesized by ultraviolet (UV) curing of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) through the reaction among poly (oxytetramethylene) diol (PTMO), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), cis-2-butene-1,4-diol (cis-BDO), and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA). In order to improve elasticity and structural permanency in the synthesized TPUs, cross-linking reaction involving unsaturated groups of chain extender (cis-BDO) and reactive diluent (HDDA) using 27 and 41 seconds of UV radiation is introduced. Investigation of structure and mechanical properties was performed using FTIR, GPC, and tensile tests. Stress-strain behavior showed that Young's moduli of EPUs were in the range of 0.2 to 0.4 MPa, which is evidence for high flexibility. Three times of repeated loading on one sample up to 100% strain with 10 min intervals for its recovery showed that considerable structural change didn't occur under these conditions and all observed permanent sets vanished within a time not exceeding 10 min.