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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Advances in Nanoscale Infrared Spectroscopy to Explore Multiphase Polymeric Systems
Published on: June 23, 2023
[Study of FTIR spectra and thermal analysis of polyurethane]
Zhi Jiang1, Kai-jun Yuan, Shu-fen Li
1Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Abstract:
The thermal behavior of polyester-polyurethane and polyether-polyurethane in air atmosphere was investigated by using FTIR analysis in the temperature range from 20 to 400 degrees C. The thermal degradation behaviors of polyester-polyurethane and polyether-polyurethane in different atmospheres were investigated by using thermogravimetry analysis (TG) in the temperature range from 20 to 700 degrees C. The FTIR results together with the TG investigations showed that polyester-polyurethane has two degradation steps in air, but polyether-polyurethane has only one degradation step. The thermal analysis results also showed that the onset degradation temperature of polyether-polyurethane is lower than that of polyester-polyurethane, suggesting that the thermal stability of polyester-polyurethane is higher than polyether-polyurethane, and the onset degradation temperature of polyurethane in air is lower than that in nitrogen, suggesting that the presence of oxygen affects significantly the break of the polymeric chains.
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