Thermoplastic polyurethanes containing organosilicon blocks: a versatile polymeric platform for high-tech applications

In view of the growing demand for highly functional hybrid polymers for electronics, medicine and smart materials, the relevance of studies of thermoplastic polyurethane-urea siloxanes has substantially increased; however, systematic data in this field are virtually absent. For the first time in the past 10 years, this review presents a comprehensive analysis of the advances in the field of linear segmented thermoplastic polyurethane-, polyurea-, and polyurethane-urea-siloxanes (TPU-Si). The key relationships between the synthesis methods, structure, and properties of materials, including problems of hydrolytic stability and microphase separation, are analyzed. A unique feature of the paper is in the original overview tables that compare more than 400 compounds and their physicochemical characteristics, which forms the basis for targeted design of materials. The review integrates chemical synthesis, computer simulation, and applied aspects, offering researchers and engineers an effective tool for the development of new polymers for robotics, biomedicine, and additive technologies. The bibliography includes 224 references.