Because
of their utility in diverse coatings applications, a model
series of polyester–polyol films possessing different diol
formulations and cross-linked with an aliphatic isocyanate cross-linker
under two different conditions is systematically investigated to elucidate
the effects of backbone chemistry and cure temperature on the ultimate
thermomechanical and free-volume properties. The diol of particular
interest in this study is 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol
(TMCD). The glass transition temperature of the films, as measured
by thermal calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis, is observed
to correlate strongly with TMCD content. In the limit of 100 wt %
TMCD diol, the operable temperature range for these films increases
by as much as ∼60 °C. Surface mechanical properties, interrogated
by nanoindentation, also depend sensitively on both TMCD content and
cure conditions, and a previously reported phenomenon known as “pileup”
is considered to explain some of our observations. Results from positron
annihilation lifetime spectroscopy indicate that the nanoscopic free
volume of films containing varying levels of TMCD is strongly dependent
on chemical makeup but not on cure conditions.