Morphological structure and mechanical properties of polyurethane modified with methyl methacrylate

Abstract

Three kinds of polyurethane-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PU-PMMA), that is, linear polymer, block copolymer, and interpenetrating polymer network (IAN ), were synthesized by a simultaneous polymerization process, respectively. The effects of several factors such as ultraviolet (UV) setting, heat setting, chemical composition, and physical structure on the morphological structure and mechanical properties of polymers were studied by scanning electron micrograph, dynamic mechanical loss spectrum, and mechanical tests. The results show that PU-PMMA is a partially compatible system with a two-phase structure; the linear polymer has the highest elongation at break, and IPN has the strongest tensile strength, while the block copolymer has poor mechanical properties. In addition, the UV setting block copolymer and IPN system, with regular microphase domain structures, have higher tensile strength and elongation at break than those of heat setting polymers. With MMA content and hard segment in PU increasing, the tensile strength increases, and the elongation decreases.