Damping elastomer with broad temperature range based on irregular networks containing hyperbranched polyester and dangling chains

Abstract

Elastomer is one of the important materials for vibration and noise reduction. However, its narrow effective damping temperature range (tanδ ≥ 0.3) remains to be a major issue that hinders its application as a damping material. Herein, we precisely design and synthesize a polyurethane structure where specific dangling chains with both electron‐donating group and electron‐absorbing group were introduced into prepolymers, generating more hydrogen bonding interaction with the main chain to hinder microphase separation. At the same time, hyperbranched polyester as a cross‐linking agent increases its free volume effectively. The synergy effect of enhancement of hydrogen bonding, decrease of microphase separation, and increase of free volume results in a higher damping polyurethane elastomer with a great wider effective damping temperature range up to 175°C (−60°C‐115°C), which provides a new idea for the preparation of damping elastomer.