The University of Akron

Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc.

University of Warwick

Andrew P Dove

Matthew L Becker

Anthony Joseph Walder

Jiayi Yu

Craig A Bell

Vinh X Truong

Cathrin G Kirchhoefer

Ian A Barker

Anthony J Walder

The thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compositions described herein have biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable hard and soft segments. The TPU hard segment can be formed from a polyisocyanate and a 2,5-substituted diketopiperazine.

Biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable thermoplastic polyurethanes

In various embodiments, the present invention provides a strong, synthetic elastomer materials (and related methods for making same) with mechanical properties that are controlled by the stereochemically-defined double bonds within their backbone, yet have physical properties that are derived from monomer selection and defined, modifiable, chain end groups. The use of the organocatalyzed, stereospecific addition of thiols to activated alkynes, affords isolated high molar mass materials (&#x3e;100 kDa) via step-growth polymerization with high levels of cis- or trans-double bond content. Furthermore, in various aspects of the present invention, it has been found that changing the monomer composition and chain end groups provides additional control over the materials' physical properties to provide more efficient compounding with polar additives. Using this approach to elastomer synthesis, further end group modification and toughening through various vulcanization strategies are also possible.

Biomimetic synthetic rubber and methods for controlling its physical properties through backbone double bond stereochemistry by monomer selection and end group modification

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Kenilworth, United Kingdom

Andrew P Dove