Polyurethane elastomers based on molecular weight advanced poly(ethylene ether carbonate) polyols. III. Effects of diisocyanate modified diols

AbstractA series of diisocyanate‐modified, molecular weight advanced poly(ethylene ether carbonate) diols has been prepared, characterized, and formulated into polyurethane elastomers using a prepolymer process. Properties were compared to a polyurethane elastomer control in which the only variable was the diisocyanate modification. The diisocyanate modification produces polymers with increased modulus (445–730% at 25°C), improved tensile strength and hardness properties and reduced (improved) coefficients of linear thermal expansion, while still passing the notched Izod impact test. The tensile strength at break increases with increasing number of urethane moieties in the soft segment and the elongation at break also increases. The plaques studied appear to have a three‐phase morphology—a soft segment continuous phase containing amorphous hard segment, an amorphous hard segment phase plasticized by about 11% of the soft segment material, and a crystalline hard segment. The polymers based on the diisocyanate modified polyols are significantly more phase mixed than the control due to the increased amount of hard segment‐soft segment interactions taking place. The improved properties of the polymers made with the modified polyols are due to their higher hydrogen bonding protential which gives more physically crosslinked polymers.