STUDYING THE MODIFICATION OF NANOSTRUCTURED POLYURETHANE ELASTOMER/POLYVINYL CHLORIDE BLEND BY LOW-MOLECULAR PLASTICIZERS

Abstract

The effect of chemical structure of low molecular weight plasticizers (LMWP) on intermolecular interactions and mechanical properties of nanostructured polyurethane elastomer (PU)/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was investigated. Polymer composite films were prepared by solution casting technique using dimethylformamide (DMF) or by rolling the melt. FTIR data showed a maximum level of intermolecular hydrogen bond degradation for PU or the polymer blend modified with trichloroethyl phosphate (TCEP) due to the formation of H-bonds between NH of rigid urethane/urea fragments of PU elastomer and chlorine of TCEP. The low compatibility of di-(2-ethylhexyl)-о-phthalate (DOP), compared with di-n-butyl-о-phthalate (DBP), and PU elastomer provided a minor effect of plasticizer on intramolecular and interfaсial interactions in PU or polymer blend. The resulting composites are characterized by increased tensile strength in the whole composition range. The results of DSC analysis of melt-rolled blends of PU/PVC modified by DOP had one wide glass relaxation transition range and their thermal and mechanical properties could be controlled by changing the ratio of initial components. The aforementioned results provide new possibilities of manufacturing the novel nanostructured thermoplastic elastomers with improved mechanical properties.