Polycarbonate polyurethane elastomers synthesized via a solvent-free and nonisocyanate melt transesterification process

Soluble and thermally stable polycarbonate polyurethane elastomers were synthesized through a solvent-free and nonisocyanate melt transesterification process. The conditions of this process were studied, and the optimum conditions were as follows: the catalyst dibutyltin oxide dosage was 0.125 wt %, the raw material molar ( n ) ratio of dimethyl 1,6-hexamethylene dicarbamate (HDC) to poly(carbonate macrodiol) (PCDL) was n (HDC)/ n (PCDL) = 1:0.99, the reactants were prepolymerized under 100°C for 1 h and then under 185°C and a high vacuum for 4 h. Three different PCDLs were selected to participate in the reaction under the conditions mentioned previously, and their structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The products obtained from this process were still stable under 280°C. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 41377.