Do You Know These Issues Related To Polyether Polyols?

The optimum polyol to use when building a polyurethane elastomer might be the difference between a high-quality product and one with poor performance. Making the right material choice requires a thorough grasp of the intrinsic qualities of each polyol chemistry as well as the essential attributes and environmental exposures for a certain application.Economic factors and the necessary performance features are part of the selection criteria.

In this article, we will answer frequently asked questions about polyether polyol selection standards and hope to help you.

What are key attributes of polyurethanes based on polyether polyols?

Even at higher temperatures, polyurethanes based on polyether have outstanding hydrolysis resistance. For applications requiring submersion in water or strong property retention in warm, humid situations, they are the material of choice.Low glass transition temperatures (Tg) in polyether polyols allow for high physical property retention and impact resistance even at extremely low temperatures. They are the best option for situations where urethane components must function and offer insulation in extremely cold conditions. Examples include flexible foam used for furniture, beds, and car padding.In comparison to polyurethanes based on polyester, polyether-based polyurethanes have stronger rebound (resilience).

Polyethers are a favored material for dynamic applications like wheels, casters, and rollers because they have lower hysteresis or heat buildup.

Polyether-based polyurethanes, due to their higher resilience, offer better performance in applications where impingement abrasion is the dominant form of wear. This is especially true for PTMEG based elastomers.

What are the end-use market shares for polyether polyols by application area?

Products made of foam make up the largest market for polyether polyols, with flexible foam taking the lead. The two main industries driving the volume of PPG-based polyether polyol are automotive cushioning and furniture. Automotive coatings are another large market. In terms of PTMEG polyols, spandex elastic fibers account for around 85% of the overall demand.

What are the types of polyether polyols?

Classifications of polyether polyols are as follows:

Polypropylene glycols (PPG) and PPG-co-polyethylene glycol (EG) polyols;

EG “tipped” PPG polyols;

Specialty PPG polyols such as SAN grafted polyether polyol;

Polytetramethylene ether glycols (PTMEG).

What distinguishes the PPG based polyether polyols from PTMEG polyether polyols?

Polypropylene glycols (PPG) and polytetramethylene ether glycols (PTMEG) are the two main groups of polyether polyols.The best polyol for making high-performance polyurethane elastomers is PTMEG. PTMEG-based polyurethanes have outstanding mechanical and dynamic properties, superior resistance to hydrolytic cleavage, strong mechanical property retention at low temperatures, high resilience, and good processing characteristics. The precise bifunctionality, low acid values, and strain-induced crystallization of the PTMEG soft segments are all factors in the related polyurethane elastomers' excellent mechanical performance.
PPG polyols offer exceptional low-temperature and hydrolysis-resistance characteristics. The PPG polyols, however, are less resistant to thermo-oxidative degradation and have inferior mechanical characteristics than the PTMEG polyols. They cost less, which is important for applications requiring polyurethane foam that are cost-driven.