Multiblock Copoly(urethane–imide)s with the Properties of Thermoplastic Elastomers

A review of the works performed at the Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences in the field of multiblock copoly(urethane–imide)s, a relatively new subclass of thermally stable polymers, is presented. The synthesis of the representative family of copoly(urethane–imide)s different in the chemical structure and ratio of flexible polyester/polyether and rigid urethane–imide blocks is performed. Mixed compounds composed of synthesized copoly(urethane–imide)s and thermoplastic polyimides are obtained. The effect of the chemical structure of the flexible and rigid blocks and their ratio on the glass and melting transitions of the studied polymer systems is investigated. Polymer systems that form stable melts and are suitable for processing to thick-wall products, thermoplastic elastomers, are proposed.