Polyurethanization temperature effect to the thermal behaviour of cellulose – fiber based hybrid polyurethane

Abstract

Polyurethanes are one of many types of polymers that are currently being developed worldwide. Some studies reported many substances involved in synthesizing polyurethanes (PU), with mostly originated from a biomass substance. Our laboratory has synthesized natural fiber – based PU to obtain hybrid PUs through varying reaction variables such as temperature. This study used cellulose, a biomass substance as well as polyethylene glycol and 4,4’ – methylenebis cyclohexyl isocyanate (HMDI) in synthesizing the hybrid PU, and investigated their thermal stability such as decomposition temperature by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed various tendency according to the chain extending temperature for the decomposition temperature. Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA) showed glass transition tendency of the product is proportional to the chain extending temperature, where the maximum glass transition obtained from the experimental is 59.8ºC at 70ºC of polymerization. Evaluation of functional group in the hybrid PUs was conducted with FT – IR spectroscopy measurement indicating urethane presence as part of the hybrid PUs.