Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of Novel Polyetherester Polyols and Developed Polyurethanes

Three kinds of cyclic anhydrides, which stand for aliphatic anhydride, aromatic anhydride, and anhy- dride containing double bond: succinic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, and maleic anhydride have been copolymer- ized with propylene oxide and low molecular weight polyoxypropylenediol via ring-opening copolymerization initiator by double metal cyanide complex catalyst to syn- thesis a series of polyetherester (PEE) polyols. The struc- ture of the obtained copolymers was confirmed by several analysis methods. Three kinds of polyetherester polyur- ethane (PEEPU) were thus synthesized by polymerization of as-synthesized PEE polyol with 4,4 0 -diphenylmethane diisocyanate. The mechanical properties of the obtained PEEPU were tested. The results showed that the mechani- cal properties of three polyurethanes are different based on their structure and composition. The inducing of the rigid phenyl group in the soft segment can improve the mechanical strength remarkably. The influences of ester content in soft segment and the hard segment content on the mechanical properties of PEEPU were studied. 2006