Gelation of thermoplastic polyurethane/2-butanone solutions

New features of thermoplastic polyurethane (PUR)/2-butanone gels are investigated, using dynamic viscoelastic measurements and differential scanning calorimetry. The work is focused on the effect of the hard-segments content on the gelation process. In the case of PUR with the highest hard-segment fraction (30%), soft segments are not able to crystallize on cooling from solution; consequently, gels are not formed. The copolymer with the lowest hard-segment content (12%) gives the shortest gel times. This is attributed to the low solution viscosity of this copolymer, which enhances the crystallization rate. All gels melt at 7°C, giving rise to a viscoelastic solution in a thermoreversible process. The critical gelation concentration is below the critical concentration for polymer chain entanglements.