Characterization of extractable species from poly(etherurethane urea) (PEUU) elastomers

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Poly(etherurethane urea) (PEUU) materials are utilized in various applications.
• Understanding the composition and extractable components of PEUU is crucial for material characterization and performance.
• Additives like Santowhite (SW) powder and Methacrol 2138 F are incorporated into PEUU formulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the methanol-extractable components from four different PEUU materials.
• To quantify the low molecular weight polymer, oligomers, and additives present in the extracts.
• To determine the soft-to-hard segment composition of the PEUU extracts as a function of molecular weight.

Main Methods:

• Methanol extraction of PEUU films.
• Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) analysis of the extracts.
• Utilized dual-detectors in GPC for comprehensive analysis.

Main Results:

• One-to-two wt% of PEUU films was extractable with methanol.
• Extracts contained low molecular weight PEUU polymer (Mw 12,000), MDI-rich oligomers (Mw 1000), Santowhite (SW) powder, Methacrol 2138 F, and aniline.
• GPC with dual-detectors enabled quantitation of all extracted species and soft-to-hard segment ratios.

Conclusions:

• Methanol extraction effectively isolates various components from PEUU materials.
• GPC is a powerful tool for characterizing complex polymer extracts.
• The study provides detailed insights into the composition of PEUU extracts, aiding in material understanding.