LAUSR

Nonisocyanate thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (NIPUs) were synthesized with the transurethanization approach. Dimethyl dicarbamates (DCs) were prepared by the reaction of a diamine with an excess of dimethyl carbonate in the presence of 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) as a catalyst. Then, the polymers were obtained under neat conditions through the reaction of DC with polyethyleneglycol of average molecular weight of 1500 g/mol (PEG1500) at variable temperatures in the presence of different amounts of 1,4-butanediol. TBD, dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTL), and K2CO3 were tested as catalysts. TBD and DBTL seemed to be more efficient than K2CO3 in the temperature range 140–160 °C. The obtained materials exhibited molecular weight values (Mw) up to 10,000 g/mol and thermal stabilities above 200 °C. The soft segments displayed glass-transition temperature values that varied from −49 to −1 °C and melting temperature values that varied from 38 to 49 °C. Compared to polyurethane analogs, the NIPUs exhibited higher crystallinities and thermal stabilities. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44991.