Erucamide/thermoplastic polyurethane blend with low coefficient of friction, high elasticity and good mechanical properties for intelligent wearable devices

Abstract

In this study, erucamide as a non-toxic and tasteless lubricant was melt blended with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) of TPU and thus to improve the wearing comfort of intelligent wearable devices. The results show that when the content of erucamide reaches percolation, erucamide can migrate to the TPU surface, forming a layer of lubrication film, and thus significantly reduces the COF of TPU. In addition, erucamide with amide groups can form hydrogen bonds with carbamate groups from TPU chains and thus can disrupt the hydrogen bonds between two amide groups of TPU chains. With the introduction of erucamide, the chain mobility of TPU increases, the partial phase mixing of soft phase and hard phase of TPU occurs, and the interchain interaction between TPU chains decreases. Under the appropriate content of erucamide (0.5 wt%), both the elasticity and processability of TPU are also significantly improved, whereas the high tensile strength, tear strength and elongation at break of the TPU blend is still obtained, facilitating its practical application in intelligent wearable devices.

Effects of Erucamide and N-phenyl-α-naphthylamine on the Friction and Torque Behaviors of Grease on Roller Bearings

“…As polymer development has advanced, erucamide has garnered extensive attention due to its outstanding tribological properties [18][19][20]. Jia TY et al [21] used erucamide as a lubricant to melt blended with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to reduce the friction coefficient of TPU, thereby improving the wearing comfort of intelligent wearable devices. Velázquez JDH et al [22] linked erucamide to the graphene sheet and found that erucamide chains tend to remain closer together through pi-pi stacking interactions arising from the double bonds located at C 13 -C 14 , and that this arrangement of erucamide chains was responsible for the lower friction coefficient of erucamide brushes, which was a macroscopic consequence of cooperative quantum mechanical interactions.…”

Special issue: polymer science and engineering of elastomers stretching elastomers to their limits

“…Recent research aims to achieve a delicate balance of coefficient of friction and mechanical performance as polyurethanes continue to enable emerging technologies ranging from biomedical implants to wearable devices that both demand flexibility, excellent hysteresis behavior, and mechanical durability. 7 Although polydiene-based triblock copolymers and polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers continue to dominate the marketplace, novel compositions are necessary to address the challenging application environments while also providing avenues for depolymerization. Fluorinated polymers have received intense scrutiny recently as many fluorinated compounds are defined as "forever chemicals" and research efforts will continue to explore the safe utilization of fluorinated polymers in the absence of fluorinated surfactants.…”