Hydrolysis‐resistant polyurethane elastomers synthesized from hydrophobic bio‐based polyfarnesene diol

Abstract

Hydrolytic stability is an essential requirement for polyurethanes (PUs) that are used in highly humid and aqueous environments. In this study, hydrolysis‐resistant PU elastomers (PUEs) are synthesized based on hydrophobic bio‐based polyfarnesene diol (PFD), which contains unique “bottle brushes” structure (with long branched hydrocarbon side chains). The effect of hard segment (HS) content, ranging from 30 to 50%, on the morphology and properties of PUEs is investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, tensile, water absorption, and contact angle measurements. The results show that there are prominent phase separations in the synthesized PUEs. The PUEs show a three‐stage degradation process and two Tg, one is at about −66 °C and the other 61 °C, which are related to the soft segment and HS, respectively. Water contact angles of PUEs increase from 98.6 to 105.2° with the increasing of PFD structural unit fraction. After being immersed in deionized water for 30 days, PUEs show no significant degradation of both tensile strength and elongation at break, and mass changes of all samples are less than 0.5%. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47673.

Effect of chain extenders on the hydrolytic degradation of soybean polyurethane

“…18 Nevertheless, depending on the vulnerability of the urethane bond to water, the resistance to hydrolytic degradation can be altered. 19 PUs based on renewable sources has gained scientific and industrial research. 17 Nonetheless, the effect of hydrolytic degradation on the structure and properties of these materials is still little explored.…”

Preparation of monosultap‐polyurethane microcapsules in an inverse emulsion through interfacial polymerization

“…This is because the shell of the microcapsules, which is a polyurethane material will degrade by means of hydrolysis, leading to the permeation of monosultap molecules through the shell. And higher temperature gives rise to faster degradation . As revealed in Figure (b) (pH = 5), in 30 days, the cumulative release achieves 68.6, 73.9, and 90.2% at 25, 35, and 45 °C, respectively.…”

Anionic Polymerization of Terpene Monomers: New Options for Bio-Based Thermoplastic Elastomers

“…In recent work, the potential of hydroxyl α,ω-functionalized polyfarnesene building blocks (polydiol, Figure b) for hydrolysis-resistant polyurethane elastomers (shown in Figure e) was pointed out . The hydrophobic polyfarnesene diol soft segment reduces the amount of adsorbed water of the polyurethane elastomers (water contact angle of 100°), increasing the hydrolytic resistance.…”

“…Consequently, the physical properties of the polyurethane elastomers remained constant even after prolonged storage in water. Additionally, the bottlebrush-like structure of the polyfarnesene diol soft segment results in lower glass transition temperatures ( T g,PFar = −66 °C) in contrast to linear polyolefin-based diols, leading to low-temperature flexible polyurethane elastomers …”

“…119,120 In recent work, the potential of hydroxyl α,ω-functionalized polyfarnesene building blocks (polydiol, Figure 7b) for hydrolysis-resistant polyurethane elastomers (shown in Figure 9e) was pointed out. 121 The hydrophobic polyfarnesene diol soft segment reduces the amount of adsorbed water of the polyurethane elastomers (water contact angle of 100°), increasing the hydrolytic resistance. The sterically demanding structure of the polyfarnesene diol shields the hydrolytically cleavable carbamate bond of the polyurethane elastomers, resulting in improved hydrolysis resistance in comparison with linear polyolefin-based diol soft segments (e.g., hydroxyltelechelic polyisobutylene or polybutadiene).…”