NEW AROMATIC DIOL CHAIN EXTENDER FOR URETHANE ELASTOMERS.

Numerous studies in recent years have focused on developing new chain extenders for polyurethane elastomers. This has been prompted primarily by the search for a suitable replacement for 4,4 prime -methylene bis(o-chloraniline) (MOCA), a widely used chain extender and curing agent which has been found to be carcinogenic in animal tests. In order to alleviate processing problems, the meta-substituted analog of hydroquinone bis(1,4-hydroixyethyl) ether (HEQ) was studied. this materials, resorcinol di-(beta-hydroxyethyl) ether (HER) has a lower melting point (89 degree C), due to lack of symmetry in the molecule. In this study, the properties and processing of elastomers cured with HER were determined. Investigations were carried out using a variety of prepolymers and catalysts. Comparisons of HER with HEQ were also made for a number of elastomer systems.