What is it about?
Polyurethanes are among the most widely used polymers. They are found in a variety of products, including flexible foams, coatings, membranes, and shape-memory devices. Their versatility stems from the ability to precisely tailor their molecular structure. This chapter explores the use of blending polyurethanes with block copolymers and creating interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) to engineer new material properties. It also presents recent advances in the use of sustainable polyols derived from CO₂ and bio-based feedstocks, which enable more environmentally friendly production processes. By carefully controlling the architecture of the soft and hard segments within the polymer, it is possible to adjust mechanical properties, surface characteristics and damping behaviour, and even impart shape memory. The chapter brings together design strategies, structure–property relationships and practical examples to guide the development of next-generation polyurethane materials.
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Why is it important?
Polyurethane materials are essential in many industries, yet their traditional production process relies heavily on fossil fuels. This chapter explores how emerging sustainable polyols, particularly those derived from captured CO₂, can facilitate more environmentally friendly polyurethane synthesis. It also demonstrates how advanced blending techniques, such as the use of block copolymers and interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs), enable precise control over properties like toughness, elasticity, damping behaviour, permeability and shape memory. These innovations are timely as industries seek high-performance materials that meet functional and environmental goals. This chapter uniquely synthesises recent advances in sustainable chemistry and polymer design to help researchers and engineers develop smarter, more sustainable polyurethane products.
Perspectives
When the editor invited me to write this chapter, I saw it as a real challenge. Having worked on polyurethane synthesis for many years, I found it intriguing to take a step back, delve deeper into the underlying molecular structures and the various methods of modifying them, and consider how this knowledge could be applied to new fields such as shape memory materials. This journey through the science was fascinating and broadened my understanding of the interplay between polymer architecture and function. Clearly, sustainability has rightly moved much more into the foreground. The choice of building blocks — particularly CO₂ and bio-based polyols — must be an integral part of designing future polyurethane materials. I hope this chapter provides a foundation for this more sustainable approach.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Ernst Müller
Ruhr-Universitat Bochum
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Blends and IPNs of Polyurethane Polymers With Block Copolymers, January 2017, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-804039-3.00006-3.
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