Study of the Effect of Soft-Segment Length and Concentration on Properties of Polyetherurethanes. II. The Effect on Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Abstract Three series of segmented polyurethanes with different soft segment lengths and concentrations were examined by TMA, DMA, and mechanical methods. Maximum tensile strengths were obtained when ssc was 40–50%, which was explained by a specific interlocking morphology. No significant effect of soft-segment chain length on maximum strength was found, but higher values were found in the C series when ssc was 60%. Elongation at break increases linearly with ssc but indications that shorter soft segments produce higher extensions was attributed to plastic flow. TMA showed that Tg was independent of ssc in the C and, to a degree, in the B series, while temperature of α-transition in DMA was independent of ssc only in the C series at ssc above 50%.