Modulating alginate-polyurethane elastomer properties: Influence of NCO/OH ratio with aliphatic diisocyanate

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) are versatile materials with applications in various fields.
• Enhancing PUEs for biomedical applications requires careful control over their structural and mechanical properties.
• Sodium alginate incorporation offers a pathway to modify PUE characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of the NCO/OH ratio on the properties of sodium alginate-based polyurethane elastomers (Al-PUEs).
• To understand the structural, thermal, mechanical, and swelling behavior of Al-PUEs with varying sodium alginate content.
• To evaluate the potential of these tailored Al-PUEs for biomedical implant applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Al-PUEs using aliphatic HMDI and HTPB monomers with controlled NCO/OH ratios.
• Characterization using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and EDX for structural and morphological analysis.
• Evaluation of thermal properties (TGA, DSC) and mechanical behavior (tensile testing).
• Analysis of swelling behavior and absorption in DMSO and water.

Main Results:

• The NCO/OH ratio significantly influences the structural, thermal, mechanical, and swelling properties of Al-PUEs.
• Increased sodium alginate content affects hydrophilicity and swelling behavior.
• Al-PUEs exhibit enhanced thermal stability and elasticity compared to traditional PUEs.
• Tailored network structures were achieved, leading to improved material characteristics.

Conclusions:

• The NCO/OH ratio is a critical parameter for tuning the properties of sodium alginate-based polyurethane elastomers.
• The developed Al-PUEs demonstrate superior thermal stability and mechanical elasticity.
• These Al-PUEs show promise as advanced biomaterials for biomedical implants due to their favorable characteristics.