SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(URETHANE-SULFONE)S

Eight poly(urethane-sulfone)s were synthesized from two sulfone-containing diols, 1,3-bis(3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl)propane (Diol-333) and 1,4-bis(3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl)butane (Diol-343), and three diisocyanates, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), and tolylene diisocyanate (TDI, 2,4- 80%; 2,6-20%). As a comparison, eight polyurethanes were also synthesized from two alkanediols, 1,9-nonanediol and 1,10-decanediol, and the three diisocyanates. Diol-333 and Diol-343 were prepared by the addition of 1,3-propanedithiol or 1,4-butanedithiol to allyl alcohol and subsequent oxidation of the resulting sulfide-containing diols. The homopoly(urethanesulfone)s from HMDI and MDI are semicrystalline, and are soluble in m-cresol and hot DMF, DMAC, and DMSO. The copoly (urethane-sulfone) s from a 1/1 molar ratio mixture of Diol-333 and Diol-343 with HMDI or MDI have lower crystallinity and better solubility than the corresponding homopoly (urethane-sulfone) s. The poly (urethane-sulfone)s from TDI are amorphous, and are readily soluble in m-cresol, DMF, DMAC, and DMSO at room temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry data showed that poly (urethane-sulfone)s have higher glass transition temperatures and melting points than the corresponding polyurethanes without sulfone groups. The rise in glass transition temperature is 20-25-degrees-C while the rise in melting temperature is 46-71-degrees-C. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.