Polyethers and polyesters

Polyester and polyether diols are used with MDI in the manufacture of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU). The polyester diols are obtained from adipic acid and diols, such as ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, or 1,6-hexanediol. The preferred molecular weights are 1,000 to 2,000, and low acid numbers are essential to ensure optimal hydrolytic stabihty. Also, caprolactone-derived diols and polycarbonate diols are used. Polyether diols are... 

The first type includes vulcanising agents, such as sulphur, selenium and sulphur monochloride, for diene rubbers formaldehyde for phenolics diisocyanates for reaction with hydrogen atoms in polyesters and polyethers and polyamines in fluoroelastomers and epoxide resins. Perhaps the most well-known cross-linking initiators are peroxides, which initiate a double-bond... 

Polyurethane foams may be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. They may be made from polyesters, polyethers or natural polyols such as castor oil (which contains approximately three hydroxyl groups in each molecule). Three general processes are available known as one-shot, prepolymer or quasi-prepolymer processes. These variations lead to 27 basic types of product or process, all of which have been used commercially. This section deals only with flexible foams (which are made only from polyesters and polyethers). Since prepolymers and... 

Both polyester- and polyether-based TPU could be used to blend with PVC, although the former constitutes the majority of the commercial products. All of the blends should meet the following requirements (I) they must have good or relatively good compatibility with PVC, (2) their processing temperature should be close to or lower than that of PVC, (3) they have to meet the specific requirements of the products, for example, TPUs used for medical purposes should be colorless (if possible), transparent, nontoxic, and able to be sterilized, and (4) they should not be expensive. 

PUR are a broad class of highly cross-linked plastics prepared by multiple additions of poly-functional hydroxyl or amino compounds. Typical reactants are polyisocyanates [toluene diisocyanate (TDI)] and polyhydroxyl molecules such as polyols, glycols, polyesters, and polyethers. The cyanate group can also combine with water this reaction is the basis for hardening of the one-part foam formulations. 

Describe the differences in properties between polyester and polyether based polyurethanes. 

Multiblock copolymers are synthesized by step polymerization using prepolymers containing specific end-groups (Eq. 14). Polyester- and polyether-polyurethanes and polyether-polyesters are multiblock copolymers of commercial interest. Step polymerizations has advantages over living polymerization. There is a... 

Bioerodible polymers offer a unique combination of properties that can be tailored to suit nearly any controlled drug delivery application. By far the most common bioerodible polymers employed for biomedical applications are polyesters and polyethers (e.g., polyethylene glycol), polylactide, polyglycolide and their copolymers). These polymers are biocompatible, have good mechanical properties, and have been used in... 

A wide variety of hyperbranched polymers have been described in the literature. Initially, these were mainly condensation polymers such as polyesters and polyethers since the required monomers were the most readily available. A number of hyperbranched polymers based on vinyl monomers have been described lately after the introduction of self-condensing vinyl polymerization. One structural variation which has been widely employed for hyperbranched... 

TPUs are handicapped by a lower elasticity than conventional rubbers, the more so the higher the hardness certain risks of creep, relaxation and permanent set, the more so the higher the temperature higher cost than TPOs risks of hydrolysis especially for the polyester types UV exposure yellowing incompatibility between certain polyester and polyether grades aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbon behaviour limited thermal behaviour density inherent flammability, but FR grades are marketed risks of fume toxicity in the event of fire. 

Desmophen Polyesters and polyethers for polyurethanes Farbenfabriken Bayer AG... 

Nunspandex elastomeric libers based on segmented polyesters and polyethers arc currently being developed that can be melt-spun into Ihreads. Teijin Ltd. produces an elastomeric liber of this type with the trade name Rcxe. 

In practice, up to 90% of polyurethanes are used in compression, a few percent in torsion, and very little in tension. There is considerable data on the tensile stress against tensile strain (elongation) for polyurethanes. Most polyurethane specification sheets provide this data. Figure 7.3 and Figure 7.4 show typical stress-strain curves for both polyester and polyether polyurethanes. 

A variety of polymeric subunits is used to make polyurethanes. These include polyesters and polyethers. The major interchain linkages are molecular forces such as hydrogen bonding and the London force. Depending on the type of chain extender and processing temperature, there also may be biuret or allophanate cross-links. 

Preliminary studies of the interphase between respective domains by Van Bogart et al. (53) indicate the thickness of this region, assuming a linear density gradient, is on the order of 10-20 A for polyester and polyether urethanes (MDI-BD based). Theoretically, the interfacial thickness is inversely related to the square root of the hard segment-soft segment interaction parameter (54). 

Polyurethanes are thermoset polymers formed from di-isocyanates and poly functional compounds containing numerous hydroxy-groups. Typically the starting materials are themselves polymeric, but comprise relatively few monomer units in the molecule. Low relative molar mass species of this kind are known generally as oligomers. Typical oligomers for the preparation of polyurethanes are polyesters and polyethers. These are usually prepared to include a small proportion of monomeric trifunctional hydroxy compounds, such as trimethylolpropane, in the backbone, so that they contain pendant hydroxyls which act as the sites of crosslinking. A number of different diisocyanates are used commercially typical examples are shown in Table 1.2. 

An example of how ab initio calculations may be applied to the study of fragments of polymer chains is given by Jaffe, Yoon, and McLean, who studied a series of mono- and diphenyl molecules containing up to 35 atoms. These compounds are models for a variety of important polymers such as polycarbonates (see Figure 1), polyimides, aromatic polyamides, aromatic polyesters, and polyether sulfone. A variety of basis sets, representing linear combination of Gaussian functions to approximate Slater-type orbitals (STOs) as compiled in Table 1, were employed. 

Polyester- and polyether-based rigid urethane foams generally require a surfactant, whether expanded with COj from the water-isocyanate reaction, or with an inert blowing agent such as fluorocarbon. Without surfactant the foam may collapse or have a coarse cell structure. Castor-oil-based systems generally do not require surfactants, but better results will be obtained if they are used (20). 

Desmophen [Bayer AG]. TM for a group of polyesters and polyethers for cross-linking with isocyanates. 

There are two classes of polyols used in PU synthesis polyesters and polyethers. Approximately 90% of all PUs are manufactured using polyether polyols. Many polyols can be modified to have a higher degree of primary hydroxyl groups, or to contain one of polyurea or PU dispersions.The primary polyols are more reactive and the dispersed polyurea and PU segments serve to increase the crosslinking of the finished PU. Most of the polyether polyols... 

Typical spectral peaks to aid in the identification of coating elastomers and rubbers are shown in Tables 7.4 and 7.5 (Verleye et al., 2001). The tables show that the infrared spectroscopic technique is invaluable in detecting characteristic peaks to identify the differences between chemically similar hydrocarbon polymers, such as polyolefins, natural and butyl rubbers. It is also sensitive enough to show the difference between polyester and polyether urethanes. Modem FUR machines can store, retrieve and compare spectra to enable manufacturers to check quality, identity and characteristics of the polymer materials they use (RAPRA, 2004). 

Fe(Il) can be sorbed as its 1,10-phenanthroline complex on polyurethane foam [19]. Polyester and polyether types of polyurethane foams have been used for preconcentration of Fe(IIl) and Fe(II) [20]. 

Vanadocene-containing polyesters and polyethers are now under active study.248,249 250 Vanadocene dichloride has known anticancer activity, so polymers, such as 109, will be evaluated. 

Figure 7. Plot of glass transition temperature of the soft segment vs. time after quenching for polyester and polyether polyurethanes (9).

Other modifications of vegetable oils in polymer chemistry include the introduction of alkenyl functions, the study of novel polyesters and polyethers and the synthesis of semi-interpenetrating networks based on castor oil (the triglyceride of ricinoleic acid) [42], and also the production of sebacic acid and 10-undecenoic acid from castor oil [44]. Additionally, the recent application of metathesis reactions to unsaturated fatty acids has opened a novel avenue of exploitation leading to a variety of interesting monomers and polymers, including aliphatic polyesters and polyamides previously derived from petrochemical sources [42, 45]. 

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