Synthesis and characterization of hydroxyl-terminated block copolyether of PTHF-PEO-PTHF

The new hydroxyl-terminated block copolyether (PTHF-PEO-PTHF) was synthesized by tetrahydrofuran cationic ring-opening polymerization and polytetrahydrofuran chains connected with the two terminals of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with PEG as macroinitiator, boron-trifuoride ethylether complex(BF₃·OEt₂) as the catalyst, and the few epoxy propane(PO)as ring-opening assistant. The copolyether was characterized by IR, ¹H-NMR, DSC and GPC. The effect of different relative molecular mass HTPE on mechanics performances of PU and the effect of reaction conditions on the polymerization yield and relative molecular mass of the product were studied, and the results show that the reaction temperature at 0°C, reaction time for 6h, the catalyst for 4% of THF molar amount are most satisfactory, and the relative molecular mass of copolyether can be adjusted by the dosage of macroinitiator.