Synthesis and properties of non-isocyanate aliphatic crystallizable thermoplastic poly(ether urethane) elastomers

[Display omitted] •Crystallizable TPU elastomers were prepared through a non-isocyanate route.•They were prepared by polymerizing a linear diurethanediol with PTMGs.•They exhibit melting temperature up to 161°C.•They show tensile strength up to 24MPa and resilience from 59% to 98%. A simple non-isocyanate route synthesizing aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPUEs) with good thermal and mechanical properties is described. Melt transurethane co-polycondensation of a diurethanediol, i.e. bis(hydroxyethyl) hexanediurethane, with different poly(tetramethylene glycol)s was conducted, and a series of TPUEs were prepared. They were characterized by GPC, FT-IR, 1H NMR, wide-angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, atomic force microscope, and tensile test. The TPUEs exhibited an Mn up to 40,000g/mol, an Mw up to 90,800g/mol, Tm from 125°C to 161°C, initial decomposition temperature at over 261°C, tensile strength up to 24MPa, elongation at break from 182% to 1476%, and resilience up to 98%. TPUEs with high Tm, good tensile strength, and high resilience were prepared through a non-isocyanate route.