In this paper we report on the synthesis of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) using oligomers synthesized from DL Lactic acid and ricinoleic acid. These polyols were obtained from renewable sources by polycondensation of monomers without catalysts. The effect of microwaves on the reactions was evaluated, where non-thermal effects were found to lower the activation energy and increase the rate constant in a third-order kinetics. The monitoring and characterization of intermediate products was done by quantification of acid value by titration (ASTM D4662 - 03) and hydroxyl number (ASTM D4274 - 05). Thermoplastics obtained are characterized by the following tests: tensile strength and elongation percentage (ASTM D882-97), analysis of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). TPU was obtained with a percentage of 50% soft segments, all have segmented morphology and segregation of phases. The formulations with poly(DL lactic acid) and Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) have the highest stiffness and glass transition temperature (Tg).
Thermoplastic polyurethane; poly(DL lactic acid); polyricinoleate
