COMPREHENSIVE STRUCTURAL STUDY OF PRE- AND POST-HEAT TREATED COMPRESSION MOLDED POLYURETHANE SAMPLES OF VARYING COMPOSITION STUDIED BY SCANNING PROBE TECHNIQUES

摘要

Only a limited number of structural studies have been performed on polyurethanes using scanning probe techniques to determine both the microstructure and the corresponding distribution of hard and soft segments within samples. This type of information is needed to better understand the mechanical properties of these materials and to facilitate modeling. In order to address these issues, we have fabricated a series of compression molded segmented poly(ester urethane) samples with hard (HS) to soft segment ratios from 19 to 100%. Samples were examined using scanning probe phase imaging techniques to obtain the topography and corresponding distribution of hard domains before and after heating at 100℃. A number of significant differences were observed between the pre- and post-heat treated samples. Variations in structure and heat-induced morphological changes were directly related to HS content. Fine strand- or fibril-like structures were most prominent in the 23 and 19% HS sample but first appeared at 30% HS. Harder, thicker elongated structures dominated the surface of the 100% HS sample and were seen to a limited extent on all samples, especially after annealing and quenching. The 23% HS sample surface structure depended on quenching rate and time after treatment.