Synthesis and properties of octadecylamine-graphene oxide modified highly hydrophobic waterborne polyurethane emulsion

Abstract

A new type of environment friendly aqueous octadecylamine-graphene oxide modified water-based polyurethane-polyacrylate (ODA-GO/WPUA) emulsion was prepared by self-emulsification. Textural characterization of the synthesized films through FTIR, SEM, TGA and AFM revealed their smooth surface while hydrophobicity, waterproofing nature (as coating) and mechanical properties were disclosed by experimental findings. The optimized properties exhibited by the synthesized films at amount of 0.1 % ODA-GO and contact angle of 105.1°, were 17° higher than routine water-based polyurethane (WPUA). In addition, ODA-GOs/WPUA films were thermally more stable than GO/WPUA and WPUA films as indicated by a weight loss of 5% at 311 °C with an increase of 33 °C compared to WPUA films. AFM studies revealed that the Young's modulus of ODA-GO/WPUA film (30 MPa) and tensile strength (1.525 MPa) were significantly higher than those of GO/WPUA and WPUA films. Moreover, ODA-GO/WPUA film has 66% higher elongation at break than WPUA film and exhibited enhanced self-healing ability as well. The present approach based on the utilization of cost effective ODA-GO for the preparation of modified WPUA films with enhanced mechanical properties and self-healing ability could be of great interest on industrial level applications.