EFFECTS OF SOFT SEGMENT CONTENT AND LASER-INDUCED GRAPHENE ON THE SURFACE AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF CROSS-LINKED POLYURTEHANES

Authors

  • Vanja Vojnović University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy – National institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Marko Spasenović University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy – National institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Dana Vasiljević-Radović University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy – National institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Darko Micić University of Belgrade, Institute of General and Physical Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Marija Pergal University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy – National institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7251/COMEN2601072V

Abstract

The versatile chemistry of polyurethanes (PUs) makes them suitable for a wide range of applications. In particular, surface topography and thermal behavior can be effectively tailored by adjusting the soft segment content (SSC) within the PU structure. However, as an intrinsically nonconductive class of polymers, PUs are not suitable for electronic applications. With the increasing interest in polymer/graphene heterostructures, the formation of graphene conductive pathways on polymer surfaces has emerged as a promising approach to overcome this limitation. In this study, we systematically examined the effects of varying SSC (expressed in wt.%) in synthesized cross-linked PUs, as well as the influence of laser-induced graphene (LIG) transferred onto the PU surface on several key properties: surface roughness via atomic force microscopy (AFM), surface wettability using water contact angle (WCA) measurements, and thermal properties through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An increase in SSC led to a reduction in surface roughness and a concomitant increase in WCA, indicating enhanced hydrophobicity. The presence of LIG further augmented the hydrophobic character of the surface. The PU structure exhibited a pronounced effect on both glass transition (Tg) and melting temperatures (Tm), while LIG had a minimal impact on thermal properties. This research provides a framework for engineering the surface and thermal properties of PU-based materials for applications in flexible electronics and smart coatings.
Keywords: polymers, composites, structure-property relationship, AFM, WCA, DSC.

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Published

2026-04-29

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2026): Contemporary Materials XVII‒1

Section

Articles