In this study, the polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) method was employed to prepare thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) without using any compatibilizers. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was dispersed in poly-tetramethylene-ether-glycol (PTMG) and subjected to phase separation during polymerization. The TPU/SiR TPEs obtained were composed of crosslinked silicone rubber (SiR) as the dispersed phase and TPU as the continuous phase. The chemical structures, phase morphologies, and mechanical properties of the obtained TPEs are easily tunable, with an average size of dispersed phase of ∼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 approximately 80% of the initial value. Moreover, the material exhibits comfortable biological tactile performance, and 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 those of pure TPU (U_s = 1.046; U_d = 0.544). This method provides a convenient and efficient way to prepare TPEs composed of two immiscible phases, and the regulation of the 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，基于聚合诱导的相分离，具有精细的相结构和舒适的质地


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。聚二甲基硅氧烷 （PDMS） 分散在聚四亚甲基醚二醇 （PTMG） 中，并在聚合过程中进行相分离。获得的 TPU/SiR TPE 由作为分散相的交联硅橡胶 （SiR） 和作为连续相的 TPU 组成。所得 TPE 的化学结构、相形貌和机械性能易于调节，当 TPU 预聚合时间为 20 min，SiR 分散相含量为 22 wt% 时，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，回收材料的拉伸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 SiR 为 33 wt% 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 （U_s = 1.046;U_d = 0.544）。该方法提供了一种方便有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，相形貌的调节非常灵活和简单。