In this study, the polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) method was employed to prepare thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) without using any compatibilizers. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was dispersed in the Poly-tetramethylene-ether-glycol (PTMG), and underwent phase separation during the polymerization, the TPU/SiR TPEs which were composed of crosslinked silicone rubber (SiR) as the dispersed phase and TPU as the continuous phase. The chemical structure, phase morphology, and mechanical property of the obtained TPE are easily tunable, with an average size of dispersed phase ~0.37 μm and a tensile strength of 13.5 MPa when the pre-polymerization time of TPU is 20 min and the SiR dispersed phase content is 22 wt.%. After repetitive processing, the tensile strength of the recycled material can still reach approximate 80% of the initial value. Moreover, the material exhibits comfortable biological tactile performance, the static and dynamic friction coefficients of this TPE with 33 wt.% SiR are 0.512 and 0.246, respectively, which are much lower than the pure TPU (Us=1.046; Ud=0.544). This method provides a convenient and efficient way to prepare TPE composed of two immiscible phases, and the regulation of phase morphology is very flexible and simple compared with the traditional method.

中文翻译：

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热塑性聚氨酯/硅橡胶 （TPU/SiR） 热塑性弹性体，具有基于聚合诱导相分离的精细相结构和舒适质地


在本研究中，采用聚合诱导相分离 （PIPS） 方法制备热塑性弹性体 （TPE），而无需使用任何增容剂。将聚二甲基硅氧烷 （PDMS） 分散在聚四亚甲基醚二醇 （PTMG） 中，并在聚合过程中发生相分离，以交联硅橡胶 （SiR） 为分散相，TPU 为连续相。当TPU的预聚合时间为20 min，SiR分散相含量为22 wt.%时，所获得的TPE的化学结构、相形貌和机械性能易于调节，分散相的平均尺寸为~0.37 μm，拉伸强度为13.5 MPa。经过重复加工后，回收材料的抗拉强度仍可达到初始值的 80% 左右。此外，该材料表现出舒适的生物触觉性能，这种 33 wt.% SiR 的 TPE 的静态和动态摩擦系数分别为 0.512 和 0.246，远低于纯 TPU （Us=1.046;Ud=0.544）。该方法提供了一种方便高效的方法来制备由两个不混溶相组成的 TPE，与传统方法相比，相形貌的调控非常灵活和简单。