RAMAN, INFRARED AND DSC STUDIES OF LITHIUM COORDINATION IN A THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE

Fourier transform (FT)-Raman and infra-red (i.r.) spectroscopy were ut ilized to monitor changes in the morphology of a commercial, phase-seg regated thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) as a function of LiClO4 conce ntration (0.1 to 2.0 mmol/g TPU). Significant changes in both the FT-R aman and the FTi.r. spectra were detected which suggest a competition between hydrogen bonding and lithium cation coordination, especially b etween the hard segments of the host polymer matrix. A loss in long-ra nge ordering of the hard domain was observed by differential scanning calorimetry with an increase in salt concentration. The ionic conducti vity (sigma) was found to increase with increasing temperature and sal t concentration. For the highest concentration used, sigma ranged from a very low value of similar to 1 x 10(-9) S cm(-1) at room temperatur e to similar to 1 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 130 degrees C.