Synthesis of silanized polyether urethane hybrid systems. Study of the curing process through hydrogen bonding interactions

Different types of silanized polyurethanes (SPUR) were prepared in two ways: the first type (a), by reacting a polyether diol with an isocyanatesilane and the second type (b) by reacting it with diisocyanate (IPDI) and afterwards with aminosilane. These systems are able to cure with atmospheric moisture and, as a consequence, a tridimensional hybrid structure is formed where the inorganic and organic phases are bonded with covalent bonds. The evolution of the curing process in both systems has been monitored by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, through the changes observed in the carbonyl stretching vibration region. The results obtained show that the SPURs of kind (b) present stronger hydrogen bonding interactions as a consequence of urea groups present in the final structure. Moreover, given the proximity of both urethane and urea groups to alkoxysilane end groups, during the alkoxysilane curing process these groups are forced to approximate themselves even further and therefore the reticulation process leads to an increase of the self association of urethane and urea groups. Finally, DSC has been used to measure Tg values of the systems studied before and after the curing process. The obtained results have confirmed the main conclusions obtained in FTIR analysis.