Structure-Property Relationship and Structural Study of Polyurethane-Urea Elastomers.

The effect of structural chemistry of different soft segments on various structural properties of polyurethane-urea (PUU) elastomers was evaluated in this study. A series of PUU elastomers were prepared by the reaction of 4,4'-diisocyanato dicylohexylmethane (H₁₂MDI) with polycaprolactone (PCL), Polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG), Polyethylene glycol (PEG), Polybutylene adipate (PBA) and amine chain extender 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-diethylaniline) (MBDEA). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to study the synthesis of final PUU elastomers. Thermal behaviour of PUU elastomers was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The surface properties and hardness of elastomers were characterized by measuring contact angle and hardness in shore A scale. The results showed highest thermal stability and hydrophobicity of PUPCL i.e., Polycaprolactone polyol based PUU elastomer. The proposed synthesis of PUU elastomers was confirmed by the appearance of -NH peak at 3305-3315 cm^-1 and disappearance of -NCO peak at 2270 cm^-1 in FTIR spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]