Polymer, Vol.38, No.4, 769-774, 1997
Saxs and Dynamic Viscoelastic Studies on Segmented Polyurethaneurea Solutions
The microstructure and dynamic mechanical properties of segmented polyurethaneurea (SPUU) in concentrated dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) solutions have been investigated by means of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and viscoelastic measurements, respectively. Kratky plots of SAXS intensity functions indicated the following : (1) Formation of hard segment domains introduced mainly by hydrogen bondings is promoted with increasing ratio of isocyanate to hydroxyl groups ([NCO]/[OH]) and polymer concentration, (2) The degree of completion of the hard segment domains increases with temperature up to 55 degrees C and then gradually decreases by further increase of temperature. An analogy was found between [NCO]/[OH] dependence of the dynamic storage G’(omega) and loss shear moduli G "(omega) for SPUU in DMAc and time dependence of those for a chemically gelling system. G’(omega) and G "(omega) indicated that the properties of SPUU solutions change from sol-like to gel-like with increasing [NCO]/[OH]. By varying [NCO]/[OH], a relationship of G’(omega) approximate to G "(omega) approximate to omega(k) was observed around [NCO]/[OH] = 1.6. The exponent k is evaluated to be 0.67, which was similar to the literature value obtained at the gelation point. This corresponds to the ’gelation threshold’ of the chemical gelation process.
Keywords:MULTIPLE ENDOTHERMIC BEHAVIOR;SOL-GEL TRANSITION;MICROPHASE SEPARATION;MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES;MODEL POLYURETHANES;PHASE-SEPARATION;BLOCK COPOLYMERS;POLYMER BLENDS;ELASTOMERS;FTIR