Thermoplastic polyurethanes from β-methyl-δ-valerolactone-derived amidodiol chain extenders

Publication date: 24 February 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 111
Author(s): David M. Guptill, Jacob P. Brutman, Thomas R. Hoye
Here we describe the synthesis of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) from polyols and amidodiol chain extenders, each of which is prepared from glucose-derived β-methyl-δ-valerolactone (MVL). Utilizing these novel chain extenders, we prepared TPUs with ca. 42–44 wt% hard segment content, comprising 72–75 wt% MVL-derived atoms. This compares favorably with an analogous sample prepared using 1,4-butanediol as the chain extender having 57 wt%. These TPUs are ductile (600–900% strain at break) and have high tensile strength (14–33 MPa stress at break). By virtue of the nature of the diamidodiol used as chain extenders, the hard segments contain a greater density of hydrogen bonding –NHC(=O)– functional groups relative to those prepared using traditional short chain 1,n-alkanediols.

Graphical abstract

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