Linear polyurethanes with excellent comprehensive properties from poly(ethylene carbonate) diol

The synthesis of polyurethanes (PUs) from the reaction of low molecular weight poly(ethylene carbonate) diol (PECD) is rarely investigated. This work reports a novel PU with excellent mechanical properties from the solution polymerization of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) with PECD that was derived from the copolymerization of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and ethylene oxide (EO). The tensile strength, the elongation at break and 300 % constant tensile strength of the PECD-PU were up to 66 ± 2 MPa, 880 % ± 50 % and 13 MPa, respectively, higher than the control PUs from the reaction of MDI with commercial polyethers or polyesters. The PECD-PU with high CO₂ carbonate content exhibited good solvent resistance and chemical stability. Of importance, the mechanical properties and chemical resistance of PECD-PU were significantly enhanced with the increasing content of CO₂, i.e., the carbonate unit in PECD. This work provides comprehensive properties of PECD-derived PUs, indicating that PECD is a competitive precursor for the preparation of PU and has broad application prospects.