1H and13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the synthesis of linear segmented polyurethane elastomers

Linear segmented polyurethane elastomers have been prepared by reaction of polyethyleneoxide with 4,4′-diphenylmethanediisocyanate and the product was subsequently cured with diamines. Chemical analysis of the prepolymer formed using stoichiometric ratios of polyol and diisocyanate indicated that the product was deficient in ‘free’ isocyanate. A number of side reactions can lead to a reduction in the amount of isocyanate available for the chain extension reaction. Infrared, 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy were used to follow the initial end-capping and subsequent chain extension reactions. In order that an unambiguous assignment of the weak peaks observed in the prepolymer and final elastomer spectra could be made, a number of model compounds associated with the side reactions were synthesized and their spectra characterized. It was concluded that the loss of ‘free’ isocyanate in the formation of the prepolymer can be predominantly attributed to the effects of traces of water in the initial reaction mixture.