Amphiphilic and segmented polyurethanes based on poly(ε-caprolactone)diol and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)diol: Synthesis, properties, and a preliminary performance study of the 3D printing

Polyurethanes (PU) have a wide variety of applications due to possessing tailored properties which can be imparted by composition. The combination polyols in different ratios provide specific for the segmented PU, such as mechanical strength, elasticity, hydrophilicity and so on. In this work, amphiphilic polyurethanes, based on poly(ε-caprolactone)diol (PCL-diol) poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)diol (PEtOx-diol) at variable mass fractions, were synthesized two-step route characterized according composition, molar mass, thermal, dynamic mechanical, rheological properties. with masses ranging from 17.9 39.6 kDa, dispersity range 2.0–4.0, are capable swelling water, coefficient being modulated polyurethane composition temperature because lower critical solubility (LCST) behavior PEtOx an aqueous medium. PCL segments PU chains partially miscible, therefore polyurethanes heterogeneous, presenting PCL/PEtOx miscible phase dispersed rich matrix solid state. 50% fraction presented gelation 69 °C, determined rheology, was evaluated Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3D printing, showing promising features, although low resolution fidelity computational project, mainly its high viscoelasticity may polymer. Moreover, cell viability tests suggest that compatible biomedical applications.