Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.80, No.10, 1802-1813, 2001
Synthesis and properties of graft copolymer derived from polyurethane and dihydroxyacrylate of bisphenol A
In this investigation, polyurethane was grafted with dihydroxyacrylate of bisphenol A, in basic medium, at 80 degreesC. The grafting process was studied using an acrylate-urethane model compound. The grafting degree of polyurethane with dihydroxyacrylate of bisphenol A was 9% by weight. An alkylation mechanism of the synthesis of the graft copolymer was suggested. The addition of the acrylic double bond to the NH-urethane structures takes place in the first stage, and the reaction can be continued as a transposition in the ortho position of the aromatic ring in the second stage. The synthesized graft copolymer was crosslinked at 140 degreesC in the presence of pyridine. The crosslinked copolymer shows high mechanical properties as compared to polyurethane, as well as an improvement of polyurethane's thermal stability. The solubility parameter of the synthesized crosslinked copolymer was estimated to have a value of 11.57 (cal/mol)(1/2).