Water-borne Polyurethane-Metal Oxide Nanocomposite Applications

K Chandra Babu Naidu,Adolfo Franco,Prasun Banerjee,N Suresh Kumar

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-72869-4_10

Abstract

The biodegradable property of the water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) potentially replaces the use of conventional polyurethanes (PU). Some unique properties of the water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) include retardation capability of flames, non-toxic nature, and cheap production cost. Water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) can easily be synthesized in a medium of water with an organic synthesis process. It is also possible to remove the hydrophobic groups with new derivative polymers while synthesis. The main constituent of the water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) includes ionic moieties and ionomers. For a broad range of industrial applications, nanofillers need to add inside the matrix of the water-borne polyurethanes (WPU). The role of these nanofillers is in general to reinforce the water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) matrix with enhanced properties. For instance, iron oxide nanoparticles can be added with the water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) as a material for shape memory (SMM) applications. The addition of the iron oxide can reduce the recovery time as well as the hyperthermia behavior of the nanoparticles helps in induction heating. Hence, the Fe3O4—water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) material can be used inside the injured tissues for potential treatments as stents, removal of the blood clots, teeth/jaws malpositioning fixing, control drug delivery, etc. Similarly, another metal oxide like TiO2 reinforcement in water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) can act as a biomimetic material for stem cell application. ZnO-water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) matrix was also successfully utilized as EMI shielding material. Some reports suggested SnO2-water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) material as thermal insulators and SiO2-water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) material as an adhesive for thin films. Hence, the overall behavior of the water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) enhances many folds due to the strong ionic interaction of the matrix of the water-borne polyurethanes (WPU) and metal oxides nanoparticles.

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