Comparative analysis of new-generation thermoplastic polymers: Cyclic olefin copolymer and polycarbonate urethane elastomers

Abstract

In this study, the thermal, rheological, mechanical, and viscoelastic properties of two new-generation thermoplastic polymers, namely cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) and polycarbonate urethane (PCU) elastomers, were compared to those of a conventional thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used for thermal examinations, while rheological, tensile, and solid-state creep tests were used for viscoelastic and mechanical analyses. The DSC results revealed that all elastomers had two different T _g values, which were −23 and 7.5°C for PCU, −40 and 95°C for TPU, and 4 and 55°C for COC. Moreover, PCU had an amorphous and more compatible structure than PCU and TPU. In the DMA, it was also observed that COC melted at approximately 90°C, while PCU and TPU melted at about 155°C. In the tensile tests, it was observed that COC showed higher strength at 30°C, but it lost its strength more effectively than the other polymers with increasing temperature and exhibited similar performance to all specimens at 50°C. Finally, in the solid-state creep tests, COC exhibited the highest creep resistance at 30°C, while its creep strain increased with temperature more effectively than those of the other elastomers.