SOLVAY

CAPROLACTONES
A20L-001

THE FORMULATION OF THERMOPLASTIC

POLYURETHANES FROM POLYCAPROLACTONE
The attached tables indicate formulations for thermoplastic polyurethanes based
upon Polycaprolactone at different isocyanate indices.
All the formulations use an excess of diol and if the reaction were taken to
completion would give products with OH values between approximately 4 (MW
27,000) and 0.56 (MW 200,000).
Although the degree of polymerisation is directly related to isocyanate index, the
actual molecular weight attained is also dependent upon the size of the repeating
unit. In practice, this means there is a direct connection between isocyanate level
and molecular weight for a given isocyanate index; the higher the isocyanate level,
the lower the molecular weight.

Batch to batch variations in OH values

Although every attempt is made to maintain consistent OH values, it is important to
understand the effect of variations and how to compensate for them.
In the majority of urethane formulations, the molar ratio of butane diol to
Polycaprolactone is 1 or greater, so that + 2% variation in OH value of the polyol is
equivalent to not more than + 1% variation in the OH value of the total diol,
equivalent to a variation of + 1% in isocyanate index. Thus, in a 1:1 butane
diol/Polycaprolactone formulation employing an isocyanate index of 0.98, a
variation in OH value of + 2% in the polyol could result in the index varying
between 0.97 and 0.99, equivalent to degrees of polymerisation of 60 and 200.
This must inevitably result in some variation in solution viscosity etc. At higher
butane diol/polycaprolactone ratios, the effect is less marked.
The simplest method of compensation for these variations is to change the amount
of butane diol employed. Thus in a series of formulations using butane
diol/polycaprolactone ratios 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1, a + 2% variation in OH value of the
polyol should be compensated by increasing or decreasing the amount of butane
diol by 0.6%, 1% or 2% respectively. This is treated more extensively as an
appendix to the tables.

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Issue 2/January 2001

Page 1 of 5

SOLVAY
CAPROLACTONES
Formulations for Thermoplastic PU's
Based on CAPA 2054 (MW 550)
Butane diol/
Molar Ratio

CAPA 2054

1:4
2054 - A
1:2
2054 - B
1:1
2054 - C
2:1
2054 - D

Isocyanate
Index

1.00
0.98
0.96
1.00
0.98
0.96
1.00
0.98
0.96
1.00
0.98
0.96

Theoretical
MW

70,000
35,000
65,000
33,000
55,000
27,000
50,000
25,000

Formulation

MDI
35.31
34.86
34.41
38.66
38.19
37.72
43.86
43.37
42.88
50.67
50.18
49.70

Butanediol
2.54
2.56
2.59
4.64
4.68
4.73
7.89
7.97
8.06
12.16
12.28
12.39

CAPA 2054
62.14
62.57
63.00
56.70
57.12
57.54
48.25
48.60
49.06
37.16
37.53
37.90

Formulations for Thermoplastic PU

Based on CAPA 2100
Butane diol/
Molar Ratio

CAPA 2100
1:3

2100 A
1:2

2100 B
1:1

2100 C
2:1

2100 D
3:1

CAPA

2100 E

Isocyanate
Index

1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96

Theoretical
MW

200,000
100,000
60,000
50,000
190,000
95,000
57,000
48,000
160,000
80,000
48,000
40,000
130,000
65,000
39,000
33,000
110,000
55,000
33,000
27,000

Formulation

MDI
24.44
24.26
24.08
23.90
23.73
26.41
26.21
26.02
26.83
25.65
31.45
31.24
31.01
30.80
30.60
38.86
38.62
38.38
38.16
37.93
44.05
43.81
43.54
43.33
43.08

Butanediol
2.20
2.21
2.22
2.23
2.24
3.17
3.18
3.19
3.20
3.21
5.66
5.68
5.70
5.72
5.75
9.33
9.38
9.42
9.44
9.46
11.89
11.94
11.98
12.04
12.10

CAPA 2100
73.35
73.52
73.70
73.86
74.03
70.42
70.60
70.78
70.95
71.13
62.89
63.08
63.28
63.47
63.65
51.81
52.01
52.20
52.40
52.60
44.05
44.25
44.44
44.63
44.81

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Issue 2/January 2001

Page 2 of 5

SOLVAY
CAPROLACTONES
Formulations for Thermoplastic PU
Based on CAPA 2200
Butane Diol/
Molar Ratio

CAPA 2200
1:2

2200 A
1:1

2200 B
2:1

2200 C
3:1

2200 D
4:1

2200 E

Isocyanate
Index

1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96

Theoretical
MW

320,000
160,000
96,000
80,000
260,000
130,000
78,000
65,000
200,000
100,000
60,000
50,000
160,000
80,000
48,000
40,000
140,000
70,000
42,000
35,000

Formulation

MDI
15.49
15.36
15.23
15.11
14.99
19.30
19.16
19.00
18.84
18.70
25.60
25.40
25.22
25.03
24.86
30.58
30.36
30.16
29.96
29.75
34.62
34.40
34.17
33.97
33.75

Butanediol
1.86
1.86
1.87
1.87
1.88
3.47
3.49
3.50
3.50
3.52
6.14
6.16
6.19
6.21
6.21
8.25
8.29
8.32
8.33
8.36
9.97
10.02
10.04
10.06
10.09

CAPA 2200
82.64
82.76
82.90
83.02
83.13
77.22
77.40
77.50
77.65
77.78
68.25
68.40
68.59
68.76
68.94
61.16
61.34
61.52
61.71
61.89
55.40
55.59
55.77
55.97
56.15

Formulations for Thermoplastic PU

Based on CAPA 2402
Butane diol/
Molar Ratio

CAPA 2402
1:1

2402 - A
2:1

2402 - B
4:1

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2402 - C
6:1

2402 - D

Isocyanate
Index

1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96
1.00
0.99
0.98
0.97
0.96

Theoretical
MW

460,000
230,000
140,000
110,000
330,000
165,000
99,000
82,000
220,000
110,000
66,000
55,000
180,000
90,000
54,000
45,000

Formulation

MDI
10.89
10.79
10.70
10.60
10.51
15.21
15.09
14.96
14.84
14.71
22.28
22.11
21.94
21.78
21.62
27.82
27.63
27.43
27.23
27.03

Butanediol
1.96
1.96
1.97
1.97
1.98
3.65
3.66
3.67
3.68
3.68
6.41
6.42
6.44
6.46
6.47
8.58
8.61
8.64
8.67
8.71

CAPA 2402
87.15
87.23
87.32
87.40
87.51
81.13
81.25
81.37
81.49
81.62
71.30
71.45
71.61
71.78
71.95
63.59
63.76
63.94
64.10
64.26

Issue 2/January 2001

Page 3 of 5

SOLVAY
CAPROLACTONES
Compensation for Variations in OH Values

Some variation in the OH value of polycaprolactones may be experienced from tim

time. The simplest way of compensating for these variations is to alter the amou
butane diol employed.
The following tables show the weight adjustments required for the part
formulations described in the previous section.
CAPA 2200
Butane diol/
Molar ratio

CAPA 2200

Formulation
No.

Adjustment of butane diol level

for CAPA 2200 of OH value

1:2

2200 - A

54
+0.14

55
+0.07

56
-

57
-0.07

58
-0.14

1:1

2200 - B

+0.14

+0.07

-0.07

-0.14

2:1

2200 - C

+0.12

+0.06

-0.06

-0.12

3:1

2200 - D

+0.10

+0.05

-0.05

-0.10

4:1

2200 - E

+0.10

+0.05

-0.05

-0.10

CAPA 2054
Butane diol/
Molar ratio

CAPA 2054

Formulation
No.

Adjustment of butane diol level

for CAPA 2054 of OH value

1:4

2054 - A

106
+0.40

104
+0.20

102
-

100
-0.20

98
-0.40

1:2

2054 - B

+0.37

+0.18

-0.18

-0.37

1:1

2054 - C

+0.32

+0.16

-0.16

-0.32

2:1

2054 - D

+0.25

+0.13

-0.13

-0.25

CAPA
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Issue 2/January 2001

Page 4 of 5

SOLVAY
CAPROLACTONES

CAPA 2402
Butane diol/
Molar ratio

CAPA 2402

Formulation
No.

Adjustment of butane diol level

for CAPA 2402 of OH value

1:1

2402 - A

27
+0.08

27.5
+0.04

28
-

27.5
-0.04

27
-0.08

2:1

2402 - B

+0.07

+0.04

-0.04

-0.07

4:1

2402 - C

+0.06

+0.03

-0.03

-0.06

6:1

2402 - D

+0.05

+0.03

-0.03

-0.05

CAPA 2100
Butane diol/
Molar ratio

CAPA 2100

Formulation
No.

Adjustment of butane diol level

for CAPA 2100 of OH value

1:3

2100 - A

108
+0.28

110
+0.14

112
-

114
-0.14

116
-0.28

1:2

2100 - B

+0.25

+0.12

-0.12

-0.25

1:1

2100 - C

+0.22

+0.11

-0.11

-0.22

2:1

2100 - D

+0.19

+0.10

-0.10

-0.19

3:1

2100 - E

+0.15

+0.07

-0.07

-0.15

For further information please contact:

Solvay Caprolactones
Baronet Road
Warrington
Cheshire
WA4 6HB
United Kingdom
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Website:

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+44 (0) 1925 651277

+44 (0) 1925 232207
contact.capa@solvay.com
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The information given in this data sheet is given as a general guide and should not be
taken to cover all cases. Each customer should ensure that the product concerned is
suitable for the specific purpose and the manner in which it is intended to be used. The
information given must not be taken in any way to form a specification.
This data sheet does not form part of the Conditions of Sale of our products and is of a
general nature.

FREEDOM FROM PATENT RESTRICTIONS SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED

Issue 2/January 2001
Page 5 of 5