Synthesis, Mechanisms and Kinetics of Formation of Bi-Component Polyurethanes

In order to understand the single-step molten state reactivities of a diaromatic isocyanate (4,4’ dPDhenylmethane diisocyanate MDI), the mechanisms and reaction kinetics were modelled using a monofunctional aromatic isocyanate (para-tolyisocyanate p-TI) and hydroxytelechelic polyols (polyethylene glycol PEG) (polypropylene glycol PPG) with variable macromolecular chains and structure (from 200 to 2000 g.mol ^-1 ). The molar ratio of reactive functions NCO/OH was set at 1.1. We were able to characterise the bi-component polyurethanes synthesised and identify side products formed (urea, trimer, allophanate…). The results were obtained by the use of a panoply of classical analytical techniques (NMR, FTIR, HPLC/UV/MS, ESI/MS, DSC) or those more recent in the field of synthetic polymers (MALDI-TOF). This work shows the necessity of using several efficient and complementary techniques in order to understand the molten state reaction mechanisms and kinetics of these complex PU systems.