The most popular polyether polyol utilized globally in the production of high-performance polyurethane elastomers is polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG). PTMEG is utilized in a wide range of applications, including polyurethane elastomers, prepolymers, coatings, adhesives, cast polyurethane resins, TPUs, protective films, spandex fibers, and much more. It is renowned for its various performance characteristics and benefits.
PTMEG is a high-performance polyol that formulators use to create polyurethane elastomers with a variety of desirable qualities, including low-temperature flexibility, dynamic properties, resilience, hydrolytic stability, and abrasion resistance.
We summarize pertinent information on PTMEG polyol usage in high-performance polyurethane elastomers in this article.
Both PTMEG and PPG polyols are polyethers that provide polyurethane elastomers high hydrolytic stability and outstanding low-temperature characteristics. The soft section of polyurethanes has extremely low Tgs for both polyether classes. PTMEG polyols have a lower Tg (Tg 75°C) than PPG polyols (65°C).
Additionally, PTMEG has a uniform linear structure that enables stress-induced crystallization and tight packing in a PUR soft section. PTMEG-based polyurethane elastomers exhibit a substantial improvement in their tensile characteristics during stress crystallization.
PPG polyols are intricate structures with pendant methyl groups that interfere with chain packing and produce amorphous soft-segment structures that cannot crystallize. As a consequence, PPG polyols in a PUR elastomer do not "stress crystallize," which is a useful property of the PTMEG soft segments.
The choice of the appropriate polyol for a certain recipe might be the difference between producing a high-quality product and one that performs poorly. A thorough knowledge of the intrinsic properties of each polyol chemistry is essential for determining the right material choice.
Excellent mechanical and dynamic capabilities, high resilience, low hysteresis, strong processing qualities, and exceptional resistance to hydrolytic cleavage are all features of PTMEG-based polyurethanes. The related polyurethane elastomers' outstanding mechanical qualities are a result of a combination of strain-induced crystallization of the PTMEG soft segments, precise di-functionality, and low acid values. Due to these qualities, PTMEG is the material of choice for manufacturers of a wide range of goods, including wheels, belts, tires, tubes, and surfaces that resist abrasion.
PTMEG polyether polyols have the best-in-class hydrolysis resistance, durability, and low-temperature qualities when compared to polyester-type polyurethanes. Polyester polyols, in contrast, have superior mechanical qualities, including tensile and rip strength and flex fatigue resistance. The polyester-type polyurethanes are more oxidation- and solvent-resistant.
The most practical polyurethane materials, in terms of cost and performance, are cast polyurethane elastomers and TPUs utilizing PTMEG as the soft segment.These elastomers are used in a wide range of different urethane applications, such as the wheels, heavy duty casters, and tires for lift trucks, lawn mowers, and all-terrain vehicles, as well as industrial belts, wiper blades, and chute liners, as well as pipe, hose, pump parts, and tank liners used in abrasive service, as well as gaskets, valves, hydro cyclones, screens, and flotation parts for
