Abstract
A set of polyurethanes containing isosorbide units were synthesized by polymerization in solution from HDI and MDI diisocyanates and 1,4-butanediol (BD), isosorbide (Is) or diisosorbide diurethanes (Is2HDI and Is2MDI) as diols. The thermal properties and stability, and crystal structure of the polyurethane homopolymers and copolymers containing isosorbide were evaluated and compared with those of the polyurethane analogues entirely made of BD. Incorporation of isosorbide produced significant changes in Tg, Tm and Td but no noteworthy differences were found between copolymers made from Is or Is2 monomers. Degradation assays revealed that incorporation of Is units increased slightly the hydrolysis rate.
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