Prediction of polyurethane behaviour via time-temperature superposition: Meanings and limitations

Abstract

Two main issues are essential nowadays for practitioners in the field of polymeric materials: how a polymer will behave under dynamic loading conditions and for how long a polymer is reliable. In this sense, the time-temperature superposition principle was applied to the main viscoelastic properties (E′, E″ and tan δ) of a series of polyurethane coatings (PU-DEG-TMP) tested for mechatronic devices. Polyurethanes are derived from an ester glycol (poly(ethylene adipate) glycol), an aromatic diisocyanate (4,4′-dibenzyldiisocyanate) and di/trifunctional chain extenders - diethylene glycol (DEG) and trimethylol propane (TMP). Despite polyurethane intrinsic rheologic complexity, the moduli/loss factor curves superimpose well over several decades of reduced frequency at the glass transition temperature (Tg), 0 °C and 15 °C, the last temperature being considered the midpoint of the practical testing range. Three criteria were for checking the applicability of the time-temperature superposition: the Cole-Cole plot, the similarity between the aT calculated from both moduli (E′, E″) and the visual appearance of the final master curve. The presence of both hydrogen bonding and chemical joint points, along with some dangling chains put in a broader context the discussion of the microstructural features resulted from the application of the William-Landell-Ferry (WLF) equation.