ABSTRACT:Blends with different ratios of thermoplastic polyurethane/polypropylene (TPU/PP) were prepared by melt mixing using an internal Haake mixer. Properties of the blends were investigated using SEM micrographs of cryofractures and measurement of the mechanical strength, water absorption, cell culture, and platelet adhesion in vitro tests, which were compared with those of PVC blood bags. The effect of the addition of the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer on the TPU/PP blend properties was investigated. The results indicated that a TPU/PP/EVA ϭ 80/ 20/5 blend can be used as a new blood bag material. It was observed that the blend is homogeneous with higher mechanical strength than that of the commercial PVC blood bag. This blend also showed a compatible cell response in contact with L929 fibroblast cells and fewer tendencies to interaction with platelets compared to the PVC blood bag. Although the blends were immissible and no chemical reaction at the interface could be found, the blood compatibility of the blends were improved.
Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) was melt blended with thermoplastic polyurethane based on polycaprolactone diol (TPU(PCL diol)). The amount of PCL was varied from 20% to 50% by weight. A single composition dependent glass transition temperature (from DSC) shows the miscibility of system. Also the negative value of polymer-polymer interaction density, obtained from the analysis of the equilibrium melting point depression, confirms the blends' miscibility. T c and T m of the PCL component in the blend decrease significantly with an increase in the TPU content, in comparison with that of pure PCL. The position of the diffraction peak related to (110) planes of PCL in the blends using WAXS has been shifted to lower value. This means the b-axis of orthorhombic unit cell of PCL is spread out in the blends. On the whole, increase of TPU content in the blend decreases crystallization ability of PCL compared to pure PCL.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.