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NOVEL Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomers
<align="left">Zhenya Zhu; Darren R. Johnson; Eric Cecilio; Phaniraj T. Nagaraj; Gregory B. Szymanski; Ronald O. Rosenberg; and Yujie Ding
Chemtura Corporation
Novel thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomers are developed based on low free (LF) monomer technology. These TPUs are manufactured using prepolymer intermediates in which unreacted free diisocyanate monomer has been reduced before the prepolymer is chain extended. Therefore, the resulting TPU pellets are processing- friendly. In subsequent injection molding operations, these TPUs are easier to melt and to demold, and are more thermally stable. Further, use of LF prepolymers from p-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI) monomer gives TPU elastomers with exceptionally high cut and tear strength, low compression set, and outstanding property retention in oil and chemical environment at elevated temperatures. Such TPU elastomers are candidates for particularly demanding applications.