Waterborne polyurethanes: Influence of chain extender in FTIR spectra profiles

Abstract

Non-polluting systems based on waterborne polyurethanes (wPU) and poly(urethane-urea)s (wPUU) were synthesized employing poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) and 4,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (HMDI) as monomers. In the formulations, the length and the proportion of the soft segments were varied. Three types of chain extenders were employed: ethylene glycol (EG), producing urethane linkages; and ethylenediamine (EDA) and hydrazine (HYD), forming urea linkages. Cast films obtained from wPU and wPUU, monomers and prepolymers were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The profile of carbonyl absorption bands obtained for the films showed some remarkable differences depending on the formulation. The bands were split into two parts, which were directly related to the tendency of hydrogen bond formation. The length of soft segment, the amount of rigid portions and the presence of urea linkages showed a marked influence in both intensity and frequency absorption of the bands.