Synthesis and Thermal Degradation of Poly(oxydiethylene adipate urethane) Composites Containing Cloisite 30B and Melamine Phosphate

In order to improve the thermal stability of polyurethane, we synthesized poly(adipate urethane) (PAU) and three PAU composites, PAU/30B (2.7 wt% 30B), PAU/MP (2.2 wt% MP), PAU/30B/MP (2.2 wt% 30B and 2.2 wt% MP), from poly(oxydiethylene adipate)-diol (PAD), 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), Cloisite 30B (30B), and melamine phosphate (MP). 30B and MP were introduced into the reactant mixture at the initial stage of the esterification between adipic acid and diethylene glycol, so 30B and MP were evenly dispersed in the PAU composites for long period. At temperatures lower than 250 degrees C, the PAU composites were degraded faster than pristine PAU, mainly due to the decomposition of 30B and MP. At higher temperatures, the 30B and MP enhanced the thermal stability of the PAU composites. Compared with the pristine PAU, the thermal decomposition rates of the PAU composites decreased by 13 similar to 17%. In air, the residual weights of PAU/30B, PAU/MP, and PAU/30B/MP were 2.4, 2.3, and 7.3 wt% at 700 degrees C, respectively.