Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.36, No.17, 3065-3077, 1998
Direct observation of morphological differences as a function of reaction temperature in model systems for polyurethane foams
A series of polyurea urethanes was isothermally synthesized from toluene diisocyanate (TDI), water, and trifunctional poly(propylene oxide) in the temperature range of 50-150 degrees C. Morphologies of the samples vary significantly as a function of reaction temperature. In this system, phase separation competes with polymerization and crosslinking. Both transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy have shown a network type of structure for the 50 degrees C samples, while the 150 degrees C samples appear to be homogeneous. Infrared analysis shows that samples prepared at 150 degrees C possess a morphology that is less strongly hydrogen bonded and has a broader distribution of hydrogen-bonded states compared to those prepared at lower temperatures. From this combination of techniques, it can be inferred that phase separation occurs faster than crosslinking at low temperatures; consequently, a phase-separated morphology forms. In contrast, crosslinking occurs faster than phase separation at higher reaction temperatures.
Keywords:ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY, PHASE-SEPARATION BEHAVIOR;VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES, SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS, POLYMERSURFACES, SYNCHROTRON SAXS, THIN-FILMS, MONOLAYERS, ELASTOMERS;ELASTICITY