Polyether‐based thermoplastic polyurethanes. I. Effect of the hard‐segment content

Abstract

Abstract A series of Polyether‐based thermoplastic polyurethanes, varying in hard‐segment content between 20 and 80 wt. %, was prepared using an (oxypropylene‐oxyethylene) diol of M n = 2000 as the soft segment and 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate extended with 1,4‐butanediol as the hard segment. Physical‐mechanical, dynamic‐mechanical, and specific heat (DSC) data are used to elucidate the mechanical and morphological behavior of these materials. The polyurethanes varied from soft elastomeric (continuous soft phase) to high‐modulus plastic (continuous hard phase) and showed changes in their tensile properties at about 60% hard‐segment content, possibly due to phase inversion.