Branched polyester elastomers

Polyester polyols are based on saturated aHphatic or aromatic carboxyHc acids and diols or mixtures of diols. The carboxyHc acid of choice is adipic acid (qv) because of its favorable cost/performance ratio. For elastomers, linear polyester polyols of ca 2000 mol wt are preferred. Branched polyester polyols, formulated from higher functional glycols, are used for foam and coatings appHcations. Phthalates and terephthalates are also used. 

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Like IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy requires little sample preparation, and provides extremely detailed information on the composition of many resins. The only limitation is that the sample must be soluble in a deuterated solvent (e.g., deuterated chloroform, tetrahydro-furan, dimethylformamide). Commercial pulse Fourier transform NMR spectrometers with superconducting magnets (field strength 4-14 Tesla) allow routine measurement of high-resolution H- and C-NMR spectra. Two-dimensional NMR techniques and other multipulse techniques (e.g., distortionless enhancement of polarization transfer, DEPT) can also be used [10.16]. These methods are employed to analyze complicated structures. C-NMR spectroscopy is particularly suitable for the qualitative analysis of individual resins in binders, quantiative evaluations are more readily obtained by H-NMR spectroscopy. Comprehensive information on NMR measurements and the assignment of the resonance lines are given in the literature, e.g., for branched polyesters [10.17], alkyd resins [10.18], polyacrylates [10.19], polyurethane elastomers [10.20], fatty acids [10.21], cycloaliphatic diisocyanates [10.22], and epoxy resins [10.23]. 

This concept of molecular tailoring to introduce units giving the required mechanical and physical properties has led to the provision of a variety of linear and branched polyesters and polyethers for polyurethane production. These intermediates may have molecular weights of the order of 500-3000, be crystalline or amorphous, contain atoms or groups which contribute to molecular flexibility or stiffness, and be linear or branched according to the requirements for use in elastomers, flexible or rigid foams, coatings, etc. 

The synthesis of PU can be carried out by the reaction described in Eq. (2.24). If the functionality of the hydroxy-containing compounds or the isocyanate is increased beyond 2, branched and possibly crosslinked polymers are produced. Because the nature of the polyol (polyether, polyester, polybutadiene, etc.) and isocyanate components can vary widely, PU are among the most versatile polymers, producing a wide variety of materials such as elastomers, foams, coatings, adhesives, or fibers. 

Synonyms Polyester polyol, slightly branched Uses Used in PU industry for mfg. of prepolymers, thermoplastic elastomers, coatings and adhesives, dispersing agents, microcellularshoe sole systems, millable gums, cast elastomers... 

It is important to note that any molecular architecture that provides a thermoplastic block chemically bonded to an elastomeric block, which is in turn bonded to another thermoplastic segment, should exhibit the properties of a thermoplastic elastomer. For example, grafting thermoplastic branches onto an elastomeric backbone produces thermoplastic elastomer behavior [285, 298]. Other examples are the segmented-type polymers—[AB] — with alternating hard and soft segments thus, a variety of segmented polyesters and polyurethanes with polyether or polyester soft segments exhibit properties of thermoplastic elastomers [263,298,299]. 

The most common POM blends are homologous mixtures of POMs having different molecular structures (linear, branched, cross-linked) (Matsuzaki 1991), different molecular weights (Ishida and Sato 1970), or with different end groups (Nagasaki et al. 1991 Hanezawa and Ono 1991). On the secmid place are blends of POM with TPU, preferably polyester type. POMs are also blended with core-shell acrylic elastomers, MBS or MBA. Commercial blends of POM with PEST are available. To improve weatherability of POM, the resin was blended with PMMA and a fluoropolymer (viz. PTFE, PVF, PVDF) (Katsumata 1991). 

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