Structure–Property Relationships in Epoxyurethane Polymers Based on Erythritol Dicarbonate

Abstract

AbstractThe highly reactive erythritol dicarbonate (EDC) allows facile design and preparation of solvent‐ and catalyst‐free epoxyurethane polymers. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A (DGEBA) and oligo polyhydroxyurethanes are used to produce epoxyurethane polymers (o‐PHUs). The o‐PHUs are prepared using cyclic carbonates derived from erythritol and various diamines (aliphatic amine and polyether amine) or polyamines (diethylene triamine (DETA) and triethylne tetramine (TETA)). Active secondary amino groups derived from o‐PHUs polyamines form hydrogen bonds between urethane carbonyls in epoxy hybrid networks with the highest cross‐linking density (1293 mol m−3), glass transition temperature Tg (93 °C), and ultimate tensile strength (34 MPa). And the ether bond provides a significant potential for hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl group and ether oxygen, forming strong hydrogen bond cross‐linking between molecular chains, with cross‐linking density and ultimate tensile strength comparable to polyepoxyurethane derived from polyamines, except for a lower Tg (27 °C). In addition, these polyepoxyurethanes have superior adhesion to wood, aluminum alloy, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrates. This versatile oligo PHUs would provide a wide range of fabrication options for adhesive epoxyurethane polymers.