SYNTHESIS, THERMAL AND PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES OF POLY(URETHANE-DIMETHYLSILOXANE) ANIONOMERS. Part I. STRUCTURAL STUDIES

Poly(urethane-dimethylsiloxane) anionomers (PUR-PDMS) were synthesized in two- or three-stage process, with the use of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and poly(oxytetramethylene)diol (PTMG), partially replaced by polydimethylsiloxane diols (PDMS) with different chain structures. 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (DMPA) neutralized with triethylamine (TEA) was used as the ionogenic component built into the polyurethane chain and ethylenediamine (EDA) as the extender. The structure of the synthesized polymers was confirmed by FT-IR analysis. By using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method, the basic differences in molecular weight distribution of the anionomers synthesized with a,omega-dihydroxy polydimethylsiloxane and dihydroxysiloxane with both primary -OH groups located at the same end of the chain. From DSC studies it was found that the obtained anionomers show a limited degree of phase separation, which was indicated by the presence of two regions associated with second order phase transitions. They were ascribed to the glass transition temperatures in the range of T-g1 = -27--30 degrees C, corresponding to soft segments transitions and T-g2 = 52-72 degrees C, related to the phase transitions of hard segment domains. A particularly pronounced plasticizing effect was demonstrated by PDMS with two hydroxyl groups at one side of the chain.