New reprocessable branched polyurethane from biorenewable sources

Abstract

Abstract Thermally-remendable and recyclable polyurethane was obtained via Diels-Alder reaction using branched glycol Voranol 3138 (glycerin-derived block-copolymer of polyethylene and polypropylene) as soft segment and toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) as hard segment subsequently functionalized by terminal difurfurylamine groups. By cross-linking via Diels-Alder reaction with N,N’-bismaleimido-4,4′-diphenylmethane (BMI) new self-healing branched polyurethane was obtained. Polymer structure was characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy along with thermal analysis methods (DSC and TGA). Resulting material has good processability and opportunity for recycling.