Understanding the Interactions between Soft Segments in Polyurethanes: Structural Synergies in Blends of Polyester and Polycarbonate Diol Polyols

• Published in: Polymers 2023-11, Vol.15 (23), p.4494
• Main Authors: Paez-Amieva, Yuliet, Martín-Martínez, José Miguel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calorimetry; Crystallization; Diffraction; Glass transition temperature; Glycols; Hydroxides; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Mechanical properties; Moisture absorption; Molecular weight; Polycarbonate resins; Polycarbonates; Polyesters; Polymer blends; Polyols; Polyurethane; Raw materials; Rheological properties; Rheology; Segments; Surface properties; Temperature; Thermal analysis; Thermal degradation; Thermogravimetric analysis; X-rays
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym15234494

There are no previous studies on the interactions between polyols of different nature as a model for understanding the interactions between soft segments in PUs. In this study, different blends of two polyols of different natures (polyester-PE, and polycarbonate diol-CD) and similar molecular weights were prepared and their structural, thermal, surface, viscoelastic, and self-adhesion properties were assessed. Different experimental techniques were used: infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and plate-plate rheology. PE showed a larger number of structural repeating units and a higher number of polar groups than CD, but the carbonate-carbonate interactions in CD were stronger than the ester-ester interactions in PE. The blending of CD and PE imparted synergic structural properties, particularly in the blends containing less than 50 wt.% PE, they were associated with the disrupt of the carbonate-carbonate interactions in CD and the formation of new ester-carbonate and hydroxyl-carbonate interactions. CD + PE blends with less than 50 wt.% PE exhibited higher glass transition temperatures, a new diffraction peak at 2θ = 24°, one additional thermal degradation at 426-436 °C, and a less-steep decline of the storage moduli. Furthermore, the different interactions between the polyol chains in the blends were also evidenced on their surface properties, and all CD + PE blends showed self-adhesion properties which seemed related to the existence of ester-carbonate and carbonate-carbonate interactions.