Improved toughness of poly(ether‐block‐amide) via melting blending with thermoplastic polyurethane for biomedical applications

Abstract

Biocompatible polyether-block-amide (PEBA) copolymers have been widely applied in invasive medical devices. Due to the high hard segment ratios and poor toughness, PEBAs generally suffer from low fracture extensibility, large brittleness, and low compliance. Modification of PEBA with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer via melting blending is thus needed to improve the toughness. Mechanical experiments exhibited that when the content of TPU was 3% (w/w), the elongation at break and the notched impact strength of PEBA/TPU composite were improved by 12.4 and 30.5%, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy results illustrated that there existed two toughening mechanisms in PEBA/TPU composites, including the crazing with a shear-yield mechanism and the single-layer crack extension mechanism. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the intermolecular interaction between PEBA and TPU was enhanced due to hydrogen bonding, leading to the tensile mechanical properties and toughness increased.

Flame retardancy and thermal decomposition behavior of TPU/chitosan composites

“…Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) is a kind of material between rubber and plastic . It has been widely used with the advantages of wear resistance, high strength, and machinability . However, TPU has a high risk of fire .…”

“…1,2 It has been widely used with the advantages of wear resistance, high strength, and machinability. 3 However, TPU has a high risk of fire. [4][5][6] For example, a large amount of heat and smoke is released during the combustion.…”

Shape memory polyurethane potentially used for vascular stents with water-induced stiffening and improved hemocompatibility

“…4(c). In the dry state, some of the amide bonds on the side chains formed hydrogen bonds with the urethane bond on the main chains, 43,44 which increased the miscibility between side chains and main chains. The PDMAPAA of the small domain size was well dispersed in hard domains, which can be clearly seen from the results of DPD simulation.…”

Fracture toughness and fractographic investigation of polybutylene terephthalate/thermoplastic polyurethane binary blends reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes using essential work of fracture approach

“…Furthermore, an appropriately uniform dispersion of TPU droplets can be observed, so this state of morphology can result in the improvement of energy absorption and toughening mechanisms, more especially, in terms of crack initiation delay and its propagation inhibition. 30 To examine the effects of CNTs on the morphology variation of PBT/TPU/CNT nanocomposites, the SEM images of nanocomposites with different content of CNTs were studied. Figure 5 depicts the SEM images of fractured surfaces of ternary nanocomposites.…”