Patent Title: REACTIVE THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE BASED ON BLOCKED ISOCYANATES

 Number/Link: WO2018/149977

Applicant/Assignee:  BASF

Publication date: 23 August 2018

“Gist”: Low molecular weight TPU with blocked isocyanate groups is useful for 3D printing

Why it is interesting: The invention is related to relatively low MW ( up to 40,000Da) thermoplastic polyurethanes with thermolabile end groups and a melting point of about 100ºC (pref).  The TPU has a low melt viscosity and after de-blocking (at pref. about 150ºC) the isocyanate groups can react with chain extender present, resulting in increased MW and related properties. The TPU can be prepared by partially blocking diisocyanates (with e.g. caprolactam) and then reacting in one shot or prepolymer system with polyols and chain extenders. In powder form the TPUs are said to be useful in additive manufacturing (AM) processes.

Caprolactam