Impact of storage and processing on morphology in thermoplasic polyetherurethanes

Redel M, Regelmann C, Wölfel B, Schubert DW (2023)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Abstract of a poster

Publication year: 2023

Event location: Kopenhagen

Abstract

The presented study evaluates the influence
of storage conditions as well as the impact
of temperature, residence time, throughput
and draw down speed in fibre spinning on
the phase separation in commercially availa-
ble thermoplastic polyether-urethanes. Many
of the properties inherent to thermoplastic
polyurethane (TPU) materials and products
are due to the block-copolymer chain of soft
and hard segments. The incompatibility of
these segments causes demixing into so
called “soft” and “hard phases” [1]. The degree
of separation as well as the segment content
are, according to literature, detectable via FTIR
measurements [2].
Granules of two TPUs with differing compo-
sition were stored for up to 900 days to eval-
uate morphological changes and correlate
to material shelf life. Samples consisting of
varying ratios of MDI/BD hard and PTMG soft
segments (Elastollan®) were subsequently
processed by injection moulding. The hard
segment ratio and the degree of microphase
separation (DPS) were studied for all samples
by analysing the peaks of ether and ure-
thane groups as well as the free- and hydro-
gen-bonded carbonyl (C=O) peaks, respec-
tively. Hard segments feature a significantly
higher density compared to soft segments,
wherefore the results of the C-O peaks, cor-
relating with the hard segment ratio, were
validated. The determined DPS values were
further related to the peak ratio of ether and
urethane groups showing a linear correlation.
In the second part, one TPU material was
processed to nonwovens and characterized
applying the calibrated FTIR method. The goal
is to study the impact of the processing condi-
tions during fibre spinning processes and to
investigate the analytic capabilities for TPUs.

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How to cite

APA:

Redel, M., Regelmann, C., Wölfel, B., & Schubert, D.W. (2023, May). Impact of storage and processing on morphology in thermoplasic polyetherurethanes. Poster presentation, Kopenhagen, DK.

MLA:

Redel, Michael, et al. "Impact of storage and processing on morphology in thermoplasic polyetherurethanes." Kopenhagen 2023.

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