Flow micro-calorimetry and FTIR spectroscopy study of interfacial interactions in uncoated and coated calcium carbonate filled polyurethane adhesives

Abstract

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) - calcium carbonate interactions were studied using flow micro-calorimetry (FMC) and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). FMC enabled the determination of adsorption and desorption energies; in this study a model compound approach was used to acquire insight in to the effect of calcium carbonate type and presence of stearate coating on polymer - filler interactions. It was anticipated that this data will assist in the understanding of differing responses obtained from parallel plate rheometry and viscoelastic measurements of the filled polyurethanes. Three calcium carbonates (coated and uncoated precipitated calcium carbonate, and natural ultramicronized uncoated calcium carbonate) were used. A stronger TPU-filler interaction was shown in the uncoated precipitated calcium carbonate due to the fact that more of the surface was available for interaction. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.