Thermo‐Responsive Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Poly(Isobutyl Methacrylate) Polymer Blends

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this research, elastomeric thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and amorphous poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA) were used to prepare polymer blends with compositions of 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50 (wt%) via melt blending. Morphological analysis revealed that co‐continuous‐like structures formed at 40 and 50 wt% PiBMA amounts. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the glass transition temperatures of the blends varied from −42°C to 31°C depending on the blend composition. Tensile results indicated that tensile strength, elongation at break, and work up to break decreased with increasing PiBMA content. In contrast, shape memory performance improved as the acrylic phase increased. The 50/50 blend exhibited the best shape memory performance, with shape fixity and shape recovery ratios of 99% and 96%, respectively. Furthermore, this composition exhibited enhanced shape memory performance during cyclic shape memory tests, maintaining an Rf of approximately 99% and an Rr of approximately 99% even after the third cycle. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the presence of PiBMA increased the degradation onset temperature of TPU. Additionally, the degradation temperature of the soft block of TPU shifted to higher values, while its maximum degradation rate decreased. The combination of tunable shape memory, mechanical, and thermal properties renders TPU/PiBMA blends suitable for next‐generation functional material applications.