• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.70-80
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• 2023

The effect of phenylphosphonic acid (PPOA) on polyurethane (PU) thermal stability was studied through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric analysis. To synthesize PPOA-modified PUs (PPOA-PUs), polyether-type diols (Mw=62, 106, 190, 419, 605) were chemically modified with PPOA and then reacted with 4,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI) and 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). During thermal decomposition in air, the PPOA embedded in the PUs formed intumescent phosphocarbonaceous char. Below 400℃, PPOA-H₁₂MDI-PUs were more unstable, as PPOA decomposed at lower temperatures than phenyl groups and aliphatic ethers. Above 550℃, the thermal stability of PUs followed this order: PPOA-MDI-PUs > PPOA-H₁₂MDI-PUs > MDI-PUs > H₁₂MDI-PUs. At 700℃, unmodified PUs had no residue, while the PPOA-MDI-PU residue was 4.4~23.0 wt.% and the PPOA-H₁₂MDI-PU residue was 1.5~17.5 wt.%. The enhanced thermal stability of PPOA-MDI-PUs at high temperatures can be attributed to the synergetic effect of PPOA and phenyl groups on the formation of phosphocarbonaceous char.