The effect of hard/soft segment composition on radiation stability of poly(ester-urethane)s

•Hard/soft segment composition affects radiation stability of poly(ester-urethane)s.•Degree of phase separation increased with increasing content of hard segments.•Ionizing radiation modifies thermal and mechanical properties of polyurethanes.

In this paper studies on the structures and radiation stability of four poly(ester-urethane)s (PUR)s synthesized from oligo(ethylene-butylene adipate)diol of various molecular weights and isophorone diisocyanate/1,4-butanediol are reported. PURs with 40 and 60 wt% soft segments were irradiated at ambient temperature with a high energy electron beam to a dose of 112 kGy. The effect of different segmental compositions on thermal and mechanical properties of polyurethanes, both before and after irradiation, were investigated using mechanical testing and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was used to study the progress of polycondensation, structure of synthesized polymers and extent of phase separation were determined on a basis of the contribution of hydrogen bonding in poly(ester-urethane)s. Correlation between degree of phase separation and mechanical and thermal properties of poly(ester-urethane)s was found.