Mechanical and adhesive properties of hybrid epoxy-polyhydroxyurethane network polymers

Epoxies and polyurethanes are both important classes of materials with wide-ranging applications. The merging of both chemistries presents new opportunities to investigate materials with potentially unique or improved performance. In this work, a series of formulations with varying levels of epoxy and cyclic carbonate monomers were reacted with a multifunctional amine to produce network polymers with hybrid functionality. The spectroscopic, swelling, thermal-mechanical, tensile, and adhesive behaviors were evaluated. The materials performed as expected based on the proposed network structure as determined through small-molecule model studies. In particular, the hybrid network polymers performed admirably as adhesives with significantly improved performance over an epoxy–amine control.