Improved dynamic properties of thermoplastic polyurethanes made from co-monomeric polyester polyol soft segments based on azelaic acid

摘要

Research and developmental work of bio-based materials from both renewable resources and biotechnological processes have gained significant interest recently. In this study, bio-based azelaic acid has been used in combination with succinic and adipic acids to synthesize co-monomeric polyester polyol soft segments for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs). Hysteresis of TPUs made from co-monomeric polyester polyols were significantly lower in comparison to the reference TPUs made from monomeric polyester polyols, indicating significant improvement in dynamic properties. In addition, tensile sets of TPUs prepared with co-monomeric polyester polyols were lower compared to TPUs prepared from monomeric polyester polyols, confirming excellent dynamic properties. Improved dynamic properties of TPUs based on co-monomeric polyester polyols can be ascribed to a phase-separated morphology which was quantified as the lowest fraction of bonded urethane from FTIR spectra, reduced crystallinity in differential scanning calorimetry thermograms, narrow tan d peaks measured using dynamic mechanical analyses, and images from atomic force microscopy.