The Influence of Chain Extenders on the Synthesis and the Performance of Polyurethane

Cheong, Duan Zhen (2019) The Influence of Chain Extenders on the Synthesis and the Performance of Polyurethane. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

The objective of this final year project is to study the synthesis of polyurethane (PU) through the prepolymer method using ethylenediamine, 1,4-butanediol and 1,3-diamino-2-propanol as chain extenders. This study also aims to investigate the effectiveness of different chain extenders and to compare the effect of both diamine and diol type of chain extenders toward the properties of PU. Ethylenediamine and 1,3-diamino-2-propanol were used as diamine type chain extenders whereas 1,4-butanediol was used as diol type chain extender. The difference in properties of each individual PU synthesised dependent on the types of linkages and content of hard segment. The four PU that successfully synthesised were specified as PU-ED, PU-BD, PU-DAP and PCL-ED. The properties were each analysed and characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analyser (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The PU-BD has shown the lowest thermal stability, but highest glass transition temperature as compared with PU-ED and PU-DAP. The PCL-ED has shown lower decomposition temperature, but higher glass transition temperature as compared with PU-ED.