Novel Silicon-Containing Polyurethanes from Vegetable Oils as Renewable Resources. Synthesis and Properties

Impact of a Novel Phosphoramide Flame Retardant on the Fire Behavior and Transparency of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomers

In many application fields of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), excellent flame retardancy and transparency are required. However, higher flame retardancy is often at the expense of transparency. It is difficult to achieve high flame retardancy while maintaining the transparency of TPU. In this work, a kind of TPU composite with good flame retardancy and light transmittance was obtained by adding a new synthetic flame retardant named DCPCD, which was synthesized by the reaction of diethylenetriamine and diphenyl phosphorochloridate. Experimental results showed that 6.0 wt % DCPCD endowed TPU with a limiting oxygen index value of 27.3%, passing the UL 94 V-0 rating in the vertical burning test. The cone calorimeter test results showed that the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of the TPU composite was dramatically reduced from 1292 kW/m² (pure TPU) to 514 kW/m² by adding only 1 wt % DCPCD. With the increase of DCPCD contents, the PHRR and total heat release gradually decreased, and the char residue gradually increased. More importantly, the addition of DCPCD has little effect on the transparency and haze of TPU composites. In addition, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were carried out to investigate the morphology and composition of the char residue for TPU/DCPCD composites and explore the flame retardant mechanism of DCPCD in TPU.

Spraying Preparation of Eco-Friendly Superhydrophobic Coatings with Ultralow Water Adhesion for Effective Anticorrosion and Antipollution

Sustainability, eco-efficiency, and green chemistry guide the development of new materials in various fields. Herein, we designed and fabricated bio-based superhydrophobic coatings by means of a facile spraying synthesized method. The as-prepared superhydrophobic coatings exhibited high water repellency with higher water contact angle being up to 156.9 ± 2.7° and a lower sliding angle of only 4.3 ± 0.6°. Also, the water adhesion on the superhydrophobic coatings was as low as 11 μN, which was far less than that (346 μN) of the normal polyurethane surfaces. The superhydrophobic properties still retained high stability under the conditions of soaking in acid solution (pH = 1) and alkaline solution (pH = 13). Meanwhile, the as-prepared bio-based superhydrophobic coatings were verified for effective corrosion and pollution protection ability. The electrochemical measurements showed excellent corrosion resistance with a higher corrosion voltage of -204.7 mV and lower corrosion current of 1.494 × 10^-5 A/cm². The corrosion protection efficiency reached a value of 95.2%, and meantime, the superhydrophobic coatings displayed higher antipollution performance without any stains when they were removed from the polluted liquids. On this basis, the underlying physical-chemical mechanisms clearly revealed that the surface micro-nanostructures could capture the continuous and stable air layer to segregate the corrosion and pollution media.

Development of sustainable resource based poly(urethane-etheramide)/Fe2O3 nanocomposite as anticorrosive coating materials

Linseed polyetheramide (LPEtA) resin was synthesized by the condensation polymerization of N-N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) linseed oil fatty amide (HELA) with pyrogallol. The residual hydroxyl groups of LPEtA resin were further modified with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) to obtain linseed poly(urethane-etheramide) (ULPEtA) via addition polymerization. ULPEtA was modified with iron oxide nanoparticles in different weight percent (0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3 wt% and 0.4 wt%) producing ULPEtA/Fe2O3 nanocomposite. Spectroscopic characterization of HELA, LPEtA and ULPEtA was carried out by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) techniques. Physicochemical and physico-mechanical properties of LPEtA and ULPEtA were carried out by using standard methods. Thermal stability and anticorrosion performance were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) and potentiodynamic polarization. The corrosion behavior of ULPEtA/Fe2O3 nanocomposite coatings on mild steel was investigated in different corrosive environments (3.5 wt% HCl, 5.0 wt% NaCl, 3.5 wt% NaOH, and tap water) at room temperature. Surface morphology study was performed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Coating properties such as gloss, scratch hardness, flexibility and impact resistance were evaluated using standard methods. The results of this study showed that ULPEtA/Fe2O3 nanocomposite coatings exhibit good physico-mechanical, anticorrosive properties and can be safely used up to 220°C.

Synthesis and characterization of castor oil based hybrid polymers and their polyurethane–urea/silica coatings

Novel acrylated alkoxysilane castor oil with hydrolysable –Si–OCH₃ was synthesized via free radical copolymerization. This silane functional castor oil was further reacted with isocyanate to get isocyanate terminated silica hybrid polyurethane–urea prepolymer.

New biobased high functionality polyols and their use in polyurethane coatings

High-functionality polyols for application in polyurethanes (PUs) were prepared by epoxide ring-opening reactions from epoxidized sucrose esters of soybean oil-epoxidized sucrose soyates-in which secondary hydroxyl groups were generated from epoxides on fatty acid chains. Ester polyols were prepared by using a base-catalyzed acid-epoxy reaction with carboxylic acids (e.g., acetic acid); ether polyols were prepared by using an acid-catalyzed alcohol-epoxy reaction with monoalcohols (e.g., methanol). The polyols were characterized by using gel permeation chromatography, FTIR spectroscopy, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and viscosity measurements. PU thermosets were prepared by using aliphatic polyisocyanates based on isophorone diisocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate. The properties of the PUs were studied by performing tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis, DSC, and thermogravimetric analysis. The properties of PU coatings on steel substrates were evaluated by using ASTM methods to determine coating hardness, adhesion, solvent resistance, and ductility. Compared to a soy triglyceride polyol, sucrose soyate polyols provide greater hardness and range of cross-link density to PU thermosets because of the unique structure of these macromolecules: well-defined compact structures with a rigid sucrose core coupled with high hydroxyl group functionality.

Recent advances in vegetable oil-based polyurethanes

Polyurethanes are among the most versatile polymers because of the wide range of monomers, particularly diols or polyols, that can be utilized in their synthesis. This Review focuses on the most recent advances made in the production of polyurethane materials from vegetable oils. Over the past several years, increasing attention has been given to the use of vegetable oils as feedstocks for polymeric materials, because they tend to be very inexpensive and available in large quantities. Using various procedures, a very broad range of polyols or diols and in some cases, poly- or diisocyanates, can be obtained from vegetable oils. The wide range of vegetable oil-based monomers leads to a wide variety of polyurethane materials, from flexible foams to ductile and rigid plastics. The thermal and mechanical properties of these vegetable oil-based polyurethanes are often comparable to or even better than those prepared from petroleum and are suitable for applications in various industries.

Polyurethane Networks from Fatty-Acid-Based Aromatic Triols: Synthesis and Characterization

Novel biobased aromatic triols (1,3,5-(9-hydroxynonyl)benzene and 1,3,5-(8-hydroxyoctyl)-2,4,6-octylbenzene) were synthesized through the transition-metal-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of two alkyne fatty acid methyl esters (methyl 10-undecynoate and methyl 9-octadecynoate) followed by the reduction of the ester groups to give terminal primary hydroxyl groups. A series of biobased segmented polyurethanes based on these triols, 1,4-butanediol as a chain extender and 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) as a coupling agent, were synthesized. Samples were prepared with hard-segment contents up to 50%. The morphologies and thermal properties of these polyurethanes were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Partial crystallinity and phase separation were detected in samples with hard-segment content of 50%.

Poly(ether urethane) Networks from Renewable Resources as Candidate Biomaterials: Synthesis and Characterization

A series of poly(ether urethane) networks were synthesized from epoxidized methyl-oleate-based polyether polyol and 1,3-propandiol using l-lysine diisocyanate as a nontoxic coupling agent. Polyurethanes with different hard segment contents were prepared to tune the final properties of the materials. The polyurethanes were fully chemically and physically characterized, including water uptake and in vitro hydrolytic degradation measurements. The weight loss of the polyurethanes was traced, and the changes in the surface morphology with the degradation time were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results revealed that the hard segment content is the main factor that controls the physical, mechanical, and degradation properties of these polymers. The observed diversity in material properties suggests that these polyurethanes may be useful for a wide range of biomedical polymer applications.