Determination of crosslink density of polyurethanes obtained from castor oil modified by transesterification

Abstract

Two series of polyols were obtained from castor oil modified by transesterification with various amounts of pen- taerythritol and glycerol. The resultant polyol properties were characterized as a function of the hydroxyl functionality. Polyurethane elastomers (PU) were synthesized from the two series of polyols obtained. The crosslink density of those polyurethanes was determined by swelling tests data adjusted to the Flory-Rehner's equation and according to the elasticity theory. The variation of the crosslink density of polyurethanes was studied by following the hydroxyl value of the modified polyol utilized in the synthesis and based on the average structure of each polyurethane repeating unit, as determined by the method of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI TOF MS). The results show that the PU obtained through castor oil modified with pentaerythritol had a higher crosslink density than PU obtained from unmodified castor oil and from PU prepared by transesterification reaction of castor oil with glycerol. PU based on polyols with the higher hydroxyl functionality presented the higher crosslink density.