Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

CiteULike is a free service for managing and discovering scholarly references - click here to get started.

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
Journal of Biomaterials Applications
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zdrahala, R. J.
Right arrow Articles by Strand, M. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Zdrahala, R. J.
Right arrow Articles by Strand, M. A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Softening of Thermoplastic Polyurethanes: A Structure/Property Study

Richard J. Zdrahala, PH.D.

Becton Dickinson Polymer Research P.O. Box 1285 Dayton, Ohio 45401

David E. Spielvogel, B.S.

Becton Dickinson Polymer Research P.O. Box 1285 Dayton, Ohio 45401

Marc A. Strand, PH.D

Becton Dickinson Polymer Research P.O. Box 1285 Dayton, Ohio 45401

Softening of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) in a simulated body environment (37°C n-saline) was studied as a function of composition, structure and resultant morphology of these (AB)n type block copolymers. The structural variations were attempted by changing chemical composition and molecular weight of both hard A and soft B segments and their weight ratio in the polymer. In addition, the influence of bulk and/or surface modifiers, such as "reacted-in" polysiloxanes and fluorinated polyalkylether glycols, was also investigated.

The degree of softening, expressed as a percentage decrease of the elastic modulus (5% tensile modulus) upon two hours exposure to the testing environment, is significant, reversible and depends on the ratio of hard to soft segment and the extent of microphase separation. Since these parameters can be selected during the polymer synthesis and processing into desirable shapes, the degree of softening can thus be controlled. This softening at body temperature represents one of the most notable performance advantages of these biomaterials.

Key Words: Thermoplastic polyurethanes: polyether based • fluorine containing • silicone containing • microphase separation • morphology of. Softening of TPUs: by heat • by moisture • in 37°C n-saline. Biomaterials.

Journal of Biomaterials Applications, Vol. 2, No. 4, 544-561 (1987)
DOI: 10.1177/088532828700200403
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?