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Interfacial rheology of coextruded elastomeric and amorphous glass thermoplastic polyurethanes

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Abstract

In this work, we report on the sensitivity of rheometrical techniques to the nature and size of the interface/interphase in coextruded thermoplastic urethanes (TPUs). In particular, the interphases developed during coextrusion of an amorphous glass (hard) TPU (Isoplast® ETPU 301) with one of two elastomeric (soft) TPUs (Estane® TPU 58277 and Estane® TPU X1175) were studied. Differences in the thickness and nature of the interphase of the two coextruded bilayer films were observed by atomic force microscopy. In one case, the interphase is thicker and rough, and in the other case, it is thinner and flat. Rheology was used in order to probe the type and characteristics of the interphases, with coextruded films having been tested in steady shear, small-amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS), uniaxial extension, and stress relaxation after a step strain in shear. The results were compared with theoretical predictions assuming zero-thickness interfaces and no interfacial slip. For SAOS and stress relaxation experiments, expressions were deduced in order to enable such a prediction to be made. Of all four rheometrical tests, only stress relaxation after a step shear did not follow the theoretical predictions and, thus, was sensitive enough to detect the presence of the interphase.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc. and NSF STC Center CLiPS–Center for Layered Polymer Systems for financial support. Ricardo Andrade would also like to acknowledge the financial support of FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal, through grant no. SFRH/BD/62152/2009. The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Prof. Savvas G. Hatzikiriakos for providing his lab in performing the extensional studies of the materials. They would also like to thank Tom Braden for extruding the bilayer films. Estane® TPU and Isoplast® ETPU are trademarks of The Lubrizol Corporation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, CLiPS–Center for Layered Polymeric Systems, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106-7202, USA

    Jorge Silva, João M. Maia, Rongzhi Huang & Ricardo Andrade

  2. Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc., 9911 Brecksville Road, Cleveland, OH, 44141-3247, USA

    Donald Meltzer & Mark Cox

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  1. Jorge Silva
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  2. João M. Maia
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  3. Rongzhi Huang
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  4. Donald Meltzer
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  5. Mark Cox
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  6. Ricardo Andrade
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Correspondence to Jorge Silva.

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Silva, J., Maia, J.M., Huang, R. et al. Interfacial rheology of coextruded elastomeric and amorphous glass thermoplastic polyurethanes. Rheol Acta 51, 947–957 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-012-0652-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-012-0652-8

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