Ionic conduction of polyurethane/sulfonated polyether blends

Sodium single-ion poly(ether urethane)/sulfonated polyether blends based on the synthesis of a series of poly(ethylene oxide)s with sodium sulfonate side chains (SPEO) with different molecular weights were prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and complex impedance analysis. The results showed that the molecular weight and content of SPEO significantly influenced the compatibility between the hard and soft segments of polyurethane (PU), the glass-transition temperature, and the ionic conductivities of PU/SPEO complexes. The glass-transition temperature of the system obviously decreased and the ionic conductivities of PU/SPEO complexes progressively increased with an increase in the SPEO content. In a certain range of temperatures, the ionic conductivities of PU/SPEO complexes agreed with an Arrhenius equation. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2369-2373, 2003.