Trifunctional polyurethane

Figure 10. Tg versus ac for dry, trifunctional polyurethane networks, (26). Reaction systems MDI/LHT240 (system 3 of Figure 9), Mc° is 710 g/mol, v is 30, at various initial dilutions of reactants. - - is MDI/POP diol. Mrepeat = M0°.

The reactants used to form the networks studied are generally of lower molar mass than those used by other workers to form perfect networks (e.g. (35)). However, the present results do indicate that very little pre-gel intramolecular reaction can have a marked effect on modulus. For example, for pr,c = 0.05, or ac = 0.58, with a trifunctional polyurethane-forming system of Me = 635g mol l, the modulus is reduced by a factor of five below that calculated on the basis of the small-strain(affine) behaviour of the perfect network. As a result, it is recommended that the effective absence of pre-gel intramolecular reaction in endlinking reactions to form perfect networks be confirmed by experiment rather than be assumed. 

Hyperbranched polyurethanes are constmcted using phenol-blocked trifunctional monomers in combination with 4-methylbenzyl alcohol for end capping (11). Polyurethane interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) are mixtures of two cross-linked polymer networks, prepared by latex blending, sequential polymerization, or simultaneous polymerization. IPNs have improved mechanical properties, as weU as thermal stabiHties, compared to the single cross-linked polymers. In pseudo-IPNs, only one of the involved polymers is cross-linked. Numerous polymers are involved in the formation of polyurethane-derived IPNs (12). 

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 poly ethers. 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. 

Crosslinking of polyurethanes proceeds in different ways depending on the stoichiometry and choice of reactants and reaction conditions. For example, an isocyanate-terminated trifunctional prepolymer is prepared by reaction of a polyol and... 

Gel Point and Shear Modulus. Trifunctional and tetrafunc-tional polyurethane(25,26,28) and trifunctional polyester net-works (32) have been studied. The gelation data for the reaction systems forming the polyurethane networks were those discussed with reference to Figure 6 and Table II. 

The deviations from Gaussian stress-strain behaviour for the tetrafunctional polyurethane networks of Figure 9 are qualitatively similar to these found for the trifunctional polyester networks (Z5), and the error bars on the data points for systems 4 and 5 in Figure 9 indicate the resulting uncertainties in Mc/Mc. It is clear that such uncetainties do not mask the increases in Mc/Mc with amount of pre-gel intramolecular reaction. 

Studies have been made of the elastic (time-independent) properties of single-phase polyurethane elastomers, including those prepared from a diisocyanate, a triol, and a diol, such as dihydroxy-terminated poly (propylene oxide) (1,2), and also from dihydroxy-terminated polymers and a triisocyanate (3,4,5). In this paper, equilibrium stress-strain data for three polyurethane elastomers, carefully prepared and studied some years ago (6), are presented along with their shear moduli. For two of these elastomers, primarily, consideration is given to the contributions to the modulus of elastically active chains and topological interactions between such chains. Toward this end, the concentration of active chains, vc, is calculated from the sol fraction and the initial formulation which consisted of a diisocyanate, a triol, a dihydroxy-terminated polyether, and a small amount of monohydroxy polyether. As all active junctions are trifunctional, their concentration always... 

The functionality of precursors varying between/ = 2 and/ = 6 is considered to be low (Figure 5.2). Polyurethane networks prepared from bifunctional telechelics and trifunctional triisocyanates, diepoxide (f = 2)-diamine (f = 4) systems, diepoxide if = 4)-cyclic anhydride (/ = 2) systems, phenol (/ = 3)-formalde-hyde if = 4) resins, or melamine (/ = 6)-formaldehyde (/ = 2) resins are in this category. 

It is shown that model, end-linked networks cannot be perfect networks. Simply from the mechanism of formation, post-gel intramolecular reaction must occur and some of this leads to the formation of inelastic loops. Data on the small-strain, shear moduli of trifunctional and tetrafunctional polyurethane networks from polyols of various molar masses, and the extents of reaction at gelation occurring during their formation are considered in more detail than hitherto. The networks, prepared in bulk and at various dilutions in solvent, show extents of reaction at gelation which indicate pre-gel intramolecular reaction and small-strain moduli which are lower than those expected for perfect network structures. From the systematic variations of moduli and gel points with dilution of preparation, it is deduced that the networks follow affine behaviour at small strains and that even in the limit of no pre-gel intramolecular reaction, the occurrence of post-gel intramolecular reaction means that network defects still occur. In addition, from the variation of defects with polyol molar mass it is demonstrated that defects will still persist in the limit of infinite molar mass. In this limit, theoretical arguments are used to define the minimal significant structures which must be considered for the definition of the properties and structures of real networks. 

One way of obtaining the more useful cross-linked polyurethanes is by using a trifunctional reagent. Thus either the TDI can react with a triol or the propylene oxide can be polymerized in the presence of a triol. Then the isocyanate-alcohol reaction would of course give a cross-linked urethane. 

This plastic includes a large group of polyaddition polymers which are formed through the reaction of bifunctional or trifunctional alcohols with di- or polyisocyanates. By varying the starting materials, linear as well as crosslinked macromolecules with correspondingly different properties are formed. Alcohols with three functional groups and/or triisocyanate are used to make crosslinked polyurethane elastomers (PUR). 

When the polyols are trifunctional or higher, they form thermoset polyurethanes. 

Flexible foam. This is made by mixing long trifunctional polyol with isocyanate to form the polyurethane, and adding a little excess isocyanate and water to the reaction to produce carbon dioxide which produces the foam. The largest use is in furniture, with smaller amounts in auto seating, mattresses, rug underlay, textiles, and packaging. 

Correlation of weight-average molar mass and relative extent of reaction for trifunctionally branched polyurethanes. Data from M. Adam et at., J. Phys. France 1809(1987). 

Network Synthesis (4) Solid MDI was weighed into a flask and an equivalent amount of polyol added. The mixture was heated to about 40°C to dissolve the MDI. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature and degassed for several minutes under vacuum in order to remove dissolved air. Catalyst was then added and the contents of the flask mixed under vacuum to ensure uniformity and then poured into a mold. All operations were carried out in a dry glove bag to minimize reaction with atmospheric water. The cross-linking process was also carried out in dioxane solution at 70% volume fraction of solids. Polyurethane networks with different crosslink densities were prepared by varying the ratio of difunctional and trifunctional polyols. All samples were extracted with dioxane to remove unreacted and uncrosslinked materialbefore swelling. 

Two different polyurethanes were used as starting materials a solid elastomer based on a trifunctional polyethertriol, 1,4-butanediol and methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) and a flexible foam where the diol was replaced by water. The ammonolysis reactions were carried out at 139 °C and 140 atm for 120 min, and with a polyurethane/ammonia weight ratio of 1. Under these conditions the polyurethane conversion was practically total. The ammonolysis reaction transforms the CO group into urea and the ester groups and derivatives of carboxylic acids into amides, whereas ether and hydroxy groups are inert towards ammonia. Scheme 2.7 illustrates the stoichiometry proposed by the authors for the ammonolysis of the polyether urethane. 

Where a step polymerization is used, almost always it is for the first polymer synthesized in a sequential IPN. The reasons involve the slow diffusion into a pre-existing network of most monomers used in step polymerization, and the relatively high glass transition of step polymerized polymers. The latter reason is important because in order for diffusion and concomitant polymerization to occur rapidly, polymer network 1 should be above its glass transition at the temperature of polymerization of monomer mix 11. Table 6.2 presents glycerol as a simple trifunctional crosshnker for step polymerized materials, suitable for polyesters and polyurethanes. 

Experimental results on reactions forming tri- and tetrafunctional polyurethane and trifunctional polyester networks are discussed with particular consideration of intramolecular reaction and its effect on shear modulus of the networks formed at complete reaction. The amount of pre-gel intramolecular reaction is shown to be significant for non-linear polymerisations, even for reactions in bulk. Gel-points are delayed by an amount which depends on the dilution of a reaction system and the functionalities and chain structures of the reactants. Shear moduli are generally markedly lower than those expected for the perfect networks corresponding to the various reaction systems, and are shown empirically to be closely related to amounts of pre-gel intramolecular reaction. Deviations from Gaussian stress-strain behaviour are reported which relate to the low molar-mass of chains between junction points. 

A multistep reaction, polyaddition, is a polyreaction of at least two bifunctional or higher functional compounds. Polyaddition can result in either linear polymers (thermoplastics) or cross-linked plastics (duroplastics), depending on the specific functionality. Cross-linked products are obtained by means of a reaction of a bifunctional reactant with a trifunctional one. The more polyfunctional the reactant, the more closely meshed the cross-linking will be. That is why the polyols in polyurethane or epoxy resin production are frequently replaced by polyesters and polyethers containing large numbers of OH groups. Polyaddition, like polycondensation, is a multistep reaction. Fig. 4. Important polyadducts include linear and cross-linked polyurethanes as well as epoxy resins (see [2]). 

Using this technique, a large variety of polyurethanes have been prepared from different vegetable oils. Natural polyols like castor oil (generally trifunctional) are directly reacted with diisocyanates to obtain branched polyurethanes, although it is difficult to control the reactivity. However, bifunctional castor oil can be polymerised with diisocyanates in the presence of suitable chain extenders and catalysts to produce polyurethanes in a more controlled manner (Fig. 6.4). A castor oil polyol-based polyurethane network can also be prepared from epoxy terminated polyurethane pre-polymer with 1,6-hexamethylene diamine. Epoxy terminated pre-polymer is obtained by the reaction of glycidol and isocyanate terminated polyurethane pre-polymer of castor oil polyol, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate. ... 

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