Design and Performance of Polyurethane Elastomers Composed with Different Soft Segments

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPUs) offer excellent flexibility and performance, leading to widespread applications.
• Limited research exists on laboratory-scale TPU synthesis, structural determination, and property influence.
• Understanding TPU structure-property relationships is crucial for optimizing their use as asphalt modifiers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the synthesis and properties of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPUs) for asphalt modification.
• To determine the chemical structures and composition ratios of synthesized TPUs using novel methods.
• To evaluate the influence of TPU chemical structure on their thermal and mechanical properties.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of TPUs using a semi-prepolymer method.
• Determination of unknown TPU structures and composition ratios via micro-testing.
• Assessment of thermal characteristics and mechanical properties through dedicated performance tests.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of TPUs suitable for asphalt modification was achieved.
• Linear backbone structures and hard segment contents were accurately determined.
• Polyester-based TPUs exhibited superior thermal behavior, while polyether-based TPUs showed better low-temperature performance.
• Relative molecular mass had minimal impact on mechanical properties.
• Crystallinity of the hard segment significantly influenced TPU properties.

Conclusions:

• TPUs can be effectively synthesized and utilized as asphalt modifiers.
• The choice between polyester-based and polyether-based TPUs depends on desired thermal or low-temperature performance.
• Optimizing TPU properties for asphalt modification requires focusing on hard segment crystallinity rather than molecular mass.