Tunable shape memory property polyurethane with high glass transition temperature composed of polycarbonate diols

摘要

A series of polyurethane (PU) copolymers was synthesized by 4,4-Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) with different polyols of polyether, polyether carbonate (PEC), and polycarbonate with the same molecular weight via a one-step copolymerization process. The synthesized PU containing the ether carbonate groups exhibited a relatively higher glass transition temperature (T-g) above 45 degrees C; in comparison, a value of 12.4 degrees C for the polycarbonate sample and -22 degrees C for the polyether sample was observed. The film made of PEC samples produced by solvent indicated an increment of T-g from 14.6 to 59.6 degrees C after annealing for 6 h, which might be due to the rearrangement of chain structure, which led to an assembling of carbonate groups and resulted in a hindrance of chain mobility. For shape memory examination of the PU copolymers, all samples showed remarkable ability as recovery rate above 91 after 3 cycles test. PEC-type PU polymers reveal potential high-temperature micro shape memory material applications.