Effect of molecular weight on the properties of polyethylene glycol polyurethane-co-polydimethylsiloxane polyurethane

• Published in: Polymer-plastics technology and engineering Vol. 59; no. 18; pp. 1967 - 1972
• Main Authors: Jee, Chanhyuk, Kang, Kyung Seok, Bae, Ji-Hong, Min, Jin Gyu, Kim, Byeong Joo, Seo, Chang Min, Huh, PilHo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Taylor & Francis 11.12.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Block copolymers; Contact angle; diblock copolymer; GPC; Molecular weight; molecular weight control; PDMS-PU (Polydimethylsiloxane-Polyurethane); Physical properties; Polydimethylsiloxane; Polyethylene glycol; Polyurethane resins; Urethane groups; Urethane thermoplastic elastomers; Water vapor; WVTR (water vapor transmission rate)
• ISSN: 2574-0881; 0360-2559; 2574-089X; 1525-6111
• DOI: 10.1080/25740881.2020.1784211

A series of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) composed of polyethylene glycol polyurethane (PEG-PU) and polydimethylsiloxane polyurethane (PDMS-PU) were prepared to examine the effects of the PEG molecular weight (MW) on the surface and physical properties. The adaptive PEG-PU-co-PDMS-PU structures resembled the architectures of a diblock copolymer, which used the MW-fractionated PEG. The sufficient MW dependence was observed within the range 200 < MW < 400, indicating that the increased urethane groups of PEG-PU block limit the surface and physical properties of these samples. The difference in properties according to the degree of the urethane groups was evaluated using a universal test machine (UTM) as well as by measuring the contact angle and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR).