Study and characterization of polyurethane composites filled with polysaccharides

Composites based on a segmented polyurethane and polysaccharides (starch, dextrin, and chitosan) have been prepared, and their biodegradation ability has been studied. With the use of pyrolysis mass-spectrometry, SAXS, and WAXS, the structure and chemical composition of the composites before and after their exposure in soil have been characterized. It has been demonstrated that the incorporation of up to 25 wt % chitosan into the segmented polyurethane leads to its structural and chemical modification and makes it possible to increase its strength characteristics and to simultaneously improve its biodegradability. The optimal biodegradability is attained when 15 and 25 wt % starch are introduced into the polyurethane, whereas the use of dextrin for this purpose turns out to be inefficient.