Novel supramolecular ionic networks of alginate-based polyurethanes

Common polyurethanes (PUs) come from the petroleum-based feedstocks therefore, there is an incredible intention to substitute them with those bio-sourced renewable materials. The supramolecular ionic networks, the compounds consisting of low molar mass multicationic and multianionic monomers held together by reversible ionic interactions, belong to a specific type of polymers called supramolecular polymers. In order to obtain novel bio-based PUs with superior thermal properties, several samples were synthesized based on IPDI, PCL diol and different chain extenders including anionic and cationic chain extenders, 1,4-BD and alginate. The chemical structure of prepared ionic networks were confirmed by appearing some determining peaks at 4.05.0 ppm in the 1H NMR which were assigned to the backbone of alginate. Furthermore, the decomposition temperature of the ionically cross-linked polyurethanes was about 100 ºC higher than the neat cationic PU