AFM monitoring of the cut surface of a segmented polyurethane unveils a microtome-engraving induced growth process of oriented hard domains

Hubert Gojzewski; Martin van Drongelen; Balazs Imre; Mark A. Hempenius; Casey Check; Richard Chartoff; Frederik R. Wurm; G. Julius Vancso

Polymer Testing (Mar 2023)

AFM monitoring of the cut surface of a segmented polyurethane unveils a microtome-engraving induced growth process of oriented hard domains

Hubert Gojzewski,
Martin van Drongelen,
Balazs Imre,
Mark A. Hempenius,
Casey Check,
Richard Chartoff,
Frederik R. Wurm,
G. Julius Vancso

Affiliations

Hubert Gojzewski: Sustainable Polymer Chemistry, Department of Molecules & Materials, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands; Corresponding author.
Martin van Drongelen: Production Technology, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands
Balazs Imre: Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111, Budapest, Hungary
Mark A. Hempenius: Sustainable Polymer Chemistry, Department of Molecules & Materials, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands
Casey Check: Center for Advanced Materials Characterization in Oregon (CAMCOR), University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97405, USA
Richard Chartoff: School of Chemical Biological and Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
Frederik R. Wurm: Sustainable Polymer Chemistry, Department of Molecules & Materials, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands
G. Julius Vancso: Sustainable Polymer Chemistry, Department of Molecules & Materials, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands; Materials Science and Technology of Polymers, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Sustainable Polymer Chemistry, Department of Molecules & Materials, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7522 NB, Enschede, the Netherlands.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 120
p. 107961

Abstract

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We report on nanoscale order-disorder transitions of hard segments and their domains composed of 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) - 1,4-butanediol (MDI-BD), in polycaprolactone-based (Mn = 2000 g/mol) polyurethanes (PCL-PUs), when the free surface is pre-oriented by cryo-microtoming of the material. Morphological variations of the hard domains as a function of temperature and the anisotropy of surface morphology features are captured by employing Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) stiffness imaging by PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (PF-QNM). The AFM imaging is supported by WAXS, SAXS, FTIR, and DSC measurements. The experimental results show that hard domains initially grown at the surface break apart at elevated temperatures (65 °C) and cannot be re-grown upon cooling. They require new microtoming to repeat the growth scenario. The detailed step-by-step submicron scale observations of the surfaces serve to show importance of the influence that microtoming and the time after its completion have on surface morphology, and that these shall be considered when studying polymer materials microscopically.

Published in Polymer Testing

ISSN: 0142-9418 (Print); 1873-2348 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Polymers and polymer manufacture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/polymer-testing

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