POLYURETHANES FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES .4. PROPERTIES OF LINEAR, CROSS-LINKED AND SEGMENTED POLYMERS FROM POLYTETRAHYDROFURAN DIOLS AND THEIR GLUCOSIDES

Various types of polyurethanes were synthesised from two classes of polyols: (i) 1,4-butane diol or selected polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) diols of different average molecular weights in the range similar to 300-2300; (ii) mono- or bisglucosides derived from each of these diols. Linear or crosslinked polymers were prepared by reaction with diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and the properties of polymers from each class of polyol were compared. Higher PTHF molecular weights produced better properties for the diol based materials whereas lower (parent) PTHF molecular weights favoured the glucoside based materials. Segmented polymers were prepared from reaction with MDI and the chain extender ethylene glycol (EG). Manipulation of the cure conditions and hard block concentration produced materials of widely differing properties. At certain hard block concentrations and using rapid (high temperature) curing the glucoside based materials were (i) superior in properties to the diol based materials and (ii) had similar properties to commercial reaction injection moulding polyurethanes.