The influence of chemical structure on thermal properties and surface morphology of polyurethane materials

Joanna Brzeska,Anna Hercog,Wojciech Wałach,Marek Kowalczuk,Maria Rutkowska,Wanda Sikorska,Aleksandra Heimowska,Magda Morawska

doi:10.1007/s11696-017-0358-6

Abstract

The surface morphology and thermal properties of polyurethanes can be correlated to their chemical composition. The hydrophilicity, surface morphology, and thermal properties of polyurethanes (differed in soft segments and in linear/cross-linked structure) were investigated. The influence of poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) presence in soft segments and blending of polyurethane with polylactide on surface topography were also estimated. The linear polyurethanes (partially crystalline) had the granular surface, whereas the surface of cross-linked polyurethanes (almost amorphous) was smooth. Round aggregates of polylactide un-uniformly distributed in matrix of polyurethane were clearly visible. It was concluded that some modification of soft segment (by mixing of poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) with different polydiols and polytriol) and blending of polyurethanes with small amount of polylactide influence on crystallinity and surface topography of obtained polyurethanes.

Highlights

The surface morphology of polymeric material is an important factor which influences on many properties of object made of polymer
Hydrophilicity, roughness, presence of functional groups and crystallinity of polymer affected its biocompatibility in medicine application, on degradability in systems of fertilizer deliver for agriculture, and so on
SEM studies were performed using of a Quanta 250 FEG (FEI) high-resolution environmental scanning electron microscope operated at 10 kV acceleration voltages

Summary

Introduction

The surface morphology of polymeric material is an important factor which influences on many properties of object made of polymer. Introducing of fluorocarbon chains into PURs leads to obtaining of the hydrophobic material with increased contact angle, and with good chemical resistance (Wang et al 2016; Licchelli et al 2011). It is clear that substrates influence on the type of formed nanostructures, such as: nanodomains in amorphous PURs and crystalline structures, which affects the properties of polymer (Janik 2010). The first platform of environment–polymer interactions takes place on macro and microscale It is interesting how the presence of nanostructures in PUR bulk acts on the morphology of micro and macrosurface of the samples, moulded under the same conditions and with the same thickness. Blends of linear PUR with poly([d,l]-lactide) (PLA) (Mw 18,000–28,000, Aldrich) were obtained by mixing both (dissolved in DMF) polymers. Soft segments of PURs were built with polyols: (i) polycaprolactone diol (PCLdiol) (Mn 1900, Aldrich) and synthetic

Methods

Results and discussion

Conclusion