Synthesis of Linear Polyurethanes: Experiments and Mathematical Modeling

MARA POLO; MARISA SPONTÓN; DIANA ESTENOZ; GREGORIO MEIRA

Cancún

Simposio; Simposio Latinoamericano de Polímeros; 2016

SPM

This work experimentally and theoretically investigates the 2-stepssynthesis of linear Segmented Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (STPUs). Several (relatively crude) mathematical models have been presented on the synthesis of STPU?s.Refs1-2 assume ideal reaction conditions, are based on probabilistic or Monte Carlo methodologies, and estimate average molecular weights andlengths of hard block segments at high conversions. The model in Ref.3 was developed for multi-stage processes, and predicts the evolution of oligomers and the average molecular weights. None of the mentioned articles validate their model predictions for the evolving molecular weight distributions (MWD?s) withmeasurements by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The first part of this work describes the syntheses of 5 STPUs via the 2-steps process. The second part presents a mathematical model that predicts the detailed MWD of the linear STPU.