HTPB-BASED POLYURETHANES - A CORRELATION STUDY BETWEEN MORPHOLOGY ANDMECHANICAL-BEHAVIOR

Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and tolylene diisocyanate were used to prepare two series of polyurethanes by a two-step process. In the f irst series, the prepolymers were chain-extended with aliphatic compou nds (1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol and 1,6-hexanediol) and in the se cond, an aromatic chain extender (dihydroxy isopropyl-N-aniline) was u sed. Some results from mechanical testing showed different trends in c omparison with previously reported results for similar systems. These findings were interpreted in terms of reactant reactivity, experimenta l procedures and morphology. Morphology was studied by means of swelli ng experiments, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electro n microscopy.