Thermoplastic Polyurethane Hydrolysis Stability

Abstract

This paper describes the monomer types commonly used in making thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. It gives chemical structure of the polymers and their general properties. Also de scribed are studies of the hydrolysis of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. This will include information on author's choice of hydrolysis stability test, the influence of polymer structure on hydrolysis stability, and the discovery of the dominant factor in poly(ester-urethane) hydrolysis stability. Effective ways of im proving the hydrolysis stability of poly(ester-urethanes), and the adverse effect of added carboxylic compounds are also de scribed. The hydrolysis stability of thermoplastic poly(ester-ure thane) elastomers based on the special-structured polyester-glycol, poly(ε-caprolactone), is also discussed. Hydrolysis stability characteristics of two types of thermoplastic poly(ether-urethanes) are discussed.