A team of scientists from Hunan Normal University and Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering have developed a bio-based TPU with high damping properties.

They used a one-step polymerization reaction to create a series of Tpus based on polylactic acid polyols and polycaprolactone polyols as well as IPDI and 1, 4-butanediol. A comprehensive analysis of their properties was performed.

They found that the damping properties could be controlled by adjusting the hard segment content and the molecular weight of polylactic acid polyols. The tensile strength of TPU is close to 25 MPa, with good thermal stability and excellent damping properties. They have 50° C effective damping temperature range, a fact that gives the material great potential as a green damping material.