Linear and cross-linked poly(urethane-urea) elastomers were synthesized from hydroxyl-terminated polyether and 1,6-hexane diisocyanate with different 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine content or cross-linkers, by solution polymerization. The polymers were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopic method. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed good thermal stability (10% weight loss temperatures are in the range of 340-370 degrees C). The obtained poly(urethane-urea) elastomers also exhibited good mechanical properties with tensile strength of 1022 MPa and elongation at break of 600%1100%. It was found that a high content of 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine moiety within the hard segments of the linear poly(urethane-urea) leads to decreased mechanical properties (such as the stress at break). Aside from the effect of the chemical cross-links, the cross-linker structure enhanced or disrupted the physical cross-links, which determined high variation of the mechanical properties. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 31: 364373, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/adv.20259