The effect of the soft segment of polyurethane on copolymer‐type polyacetal/polyurethane blends

Abstract

AbstractMechanical blends of copolymer‐type polyacetal (POM) with ester‐based and ether‐based polyurethane (PU) are immiscible over the 0–50% PU compositional range. The PU elastomer was added to the rigid POM matrix to increase its toughness. The mechanical, physical, thermal, dielectric, and dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of POM/PU blends were investigated. The notched Izod‐impact strength of blends reaches a maximum at 10 wt % PU. The tensile strength, Young's modulus, volume resistivity, crystallinity, and density decrease with increasing concentration of PU. The elongation of blends reaches a maximum at 20 wt % PU. The dielectric constant and dissipation factor increase with increasing PU content. From dynamic mechanical measurements, as the elastomer content increases, the height of the damping peak also increases, but there is no transition temperature shift. SEM shows that the blends exhibit a continuous morphology with domain size varying from 1 to 10 μm for PU. However, at a concentration of 50 wt % PU, the dispersed PU particles tend to aggregate. Characterization of morphology by a metallurgical microscope has shown that the crystalline materials in the pure POM and the blends exist in a spherulitic superstructure.