Chemicals & Polymers Blog

Cast polyurethane elastomers based on 1,4-butanediol (BDO)-extended MDI systems using PTMEG as the soft segment are among the most useful polyurethane materials, offering cost and performance advantages.  We see these elastomers used in a myriad of diverse cast urethane applications including wheels, heavy duty casters and tires for lift trucks, mowers; and all-terrain vehicles; industrial belts, wiper blades, and chute liners; pipe, hose, pump components, and tank liners used in abrasive service; mining, power, and oil-field equipment such as gaskets, valves, hydro cyclones, screens, and flotation parts; athletic shoes, boots and recreational equipment; and medical devices.

Using the broad range of unique polycaprolactone polyols available from Gantrade and Daicel Corporation, formulators can custom-tailor polyurethanes to achieve greater levels of performance.  Polycaprolactone polyols in polyurethanes can enhance the capabilities of existing polyurethanes or enter new applications by displacing other material systems, such as rubber and epoxies.

Diethyl toluenediamine (DETDA), is also commonly known in the polyurethane industry by the brand names Ethacure 100, Lonza DETDA 80, and Nitroil ADA I80.

We have written in this space about different performance polyols used to achieve the desired performance of elastomers in various applications. In addition to the disocianate type, polyols offer formulators an ability to achieve a variety of processing and performance advantages.

Caprolactone monomer is a reactive cyclic-lactone ester which is easily ring-opening polymerized to produce a wide variety of performance intermediates with advanced polymer architectures based on the polycaprolactone unit.  

All polyol classes used in polyurethanes have a set of unique attributes that make them useful as the soft-segment in specific polyurethane elastomer applications.

Methylene diphenyl diisocyanates (MDIs) are essential building blocks in the production of polyurethanes, urethane-prepolymers, and polyisocyanurate polymers in many industries. Because of their reactivity and versatility of combining with an wide array of curatives and chain extenders, MDIs are used in countless diverse applications. End-uses for these quite versatile diisocyanates include foam products, cast elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs), fibers, and CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants & elastomers) products. MDIs are the most-produced diisocyanate on a global basis.

Gantrade’s P-1000 and P-2000 are oligomeric diamine curatives based on the p-aminobenzoate ester of PTMEG 1000 and PTMEG 2000, respectively. The Gantrade P-1000 is similar to Versaink® P-1000. The P-2000 is a new material, developed for applications where a lower Durometer is required. A diamine based on the p-aminobenzoate of PTMEG 650 is also available from Gantrade Corporation.

Polycaprolactone polyols are a special class of polyester polyols preferred in polyurethane elastomer applications where high dynamic durability, broad temperature profiles, very good hydrolysis resistance, and exceptional elastomeric properties are required.  Polyester polyols, as a class, are generally selected for urethane applications where high tensile strength and tear resistance, sliding abrasion resistance, flex fatigue resistance, oil, grease and solvent resistance, and high temperature and oxidative stability are needed.

Based on its unique structural characteristics, XYLink P-1000 polyether diamine curative delivers exceptional benefits and improved performance in epoxy systems.  

The polyether backbone is PTMEG, contributing the enhancements usually attributed to this polymeric unit.   PTMEG efficiently enhances both flexibility and fracture toughness.  The p-aminobenzoate functionality has low reactivity toward epoxy moieties.  Thus, epoxy systems based on XYLink P-1000 exhibit relatively low viscosities and cure-rate control that improves casting, coating, adhesion, and impregnation in composite applications.  As a slow-reacting diamine (tetrafunctional epoxy hardener), XYLink P-1000 is effective in applications where long working times, low viscosities, substrate wettability and lower heat-build are required.