The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

While thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are becoming increasingly important due to their unique combination of flexibility, durability, and recyclability, traditional TPUs are often synthesized from fossil-based raw materials. In this work, we present a series of TPUs synthesized using CO₂-derived polycarbonate polyols comprising allyl functional groups. The presence of reactive allyl groups in the polyols not only enables tuning of the thermal and mechanical properties of the resulting TPUs, but also provides opportunities for post-polymerization modification, such as thiol–ene click reactions. By carefully adjusting the allyl content in the polyols and converting them into carboxylic groups through post-polymerization modification, we achieved a broad range of thermal, mechanical, and adhesive properties of the resulting TPUs. Our approach offers the preparation of environmentally friendly TPUs with tailored functionalities.