Aqueous Polyurethane Dispersions Research Articles

Preparation and Rheological Properties of Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Waterborne Polyurethane Nanocomposites

Waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) was synthesized by a polyaddition reaction with toluene diisocyanate (TDI), polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), and triethylamine (TEA). Aqueous polyurethane dispersions with three different weight fractions, 30, 40, and 50 wt%, were prepared. All the dispersions made with these concentrations showed Newtonian viscosity behavior. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were functionalized using a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acid at a ratio of 3:1 and added to these dispersions in two different loads of 0.1 and 0.5 wt%. Ultraviolet visible spectrometry (UV/Vis) spectroscopy proved the formation of stable suspensions following ultrasonic agitation. The rheology of these suspensions was characterized using dynamic and steady-state measurements. The higher amount of CNT in the suspension imparted non-Newtonian and complex viscoelastic behavior. This was attributed to a physical network formed due to the presence of the functionalized CNTs. The Cox-Merz rule was not observed for these suspensions.

Preparation and Characterization of Aqueous Oil-Modified Polyurethane

Aqueous oil-modified polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) were synthesized using alcoholysis derivatives of vegetable oil, hydroxyl-terminated polyether, isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and dimethylolbutyric acid (DMBA). Alcoholysis was performed in order to insert alcoholysis derivatives, which were used as the polyol composition. The structures of alcoholysis derivatives, polyurethane dispersions and their dry films were confirmed by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR), respectively. The effect of alcoholysis derivatives on the properties of PUD films was investigated. The results show that tack-free time and gloss of PUD films would change with the amount of alcoholysis derivatives. When compared to aqueous polyurethane dispersions, aqueous oil-modified PUDs have shorter tack-free time, higher gloss and tensile strength and lower elongation at broken.

Structure and properties of composites compression‐molded from silk fibroin powder and waterborne polyurethane

AbstractThe degummed silk filament was pulverized with a home‐made machine to obtain the silk fibroin (SF) powder with the diameter of around 3 µm. The resulting SF powder was blended with waterborne polyurethane (WPU) aqueous dispersion, and then was dried and compression‐molded to prepare novel blended materials with improved miscibility and mechanical properties. WPU acted as a plasticizer and one of the components for the blends during the compression‐molded process. The structure, morphology, and properties of the blended films were investigated. The results indicated that β‐sheet of SF existed in the blended films. The SEM images showed that the cross‐section of the blended films exhibited an overall homogeneous morphology. Furthermore, the transmission electron microscope observation exhibited that some sphere‐like SF particles were well dispersed in the WPU matrix. The hydrogen bond interaction between SF and WPU in the blended films led to an increase of the glass transition temperature for the soft segment of WPU in the blended films. The blended films showed an improved Young's modulus and tensile strength from 1.2 to 288.9 MPa and 0.3 to 16.5 MPa, respectively, with the increasing of SF up to a content of 70 wt%. The hydrogen‐bonding interactions existing in SF and WPU and compression molding method played the important role in improving the miscibility and mechanical properties of the blended films. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Polyurethanes as Supports for Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Growth

The transplant of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells on supports may well be an effective therapeutic approach to improve the visual results of patients with age-related macular degeneration. In this study, two biodegradable polyurethanes were investigated as supports for human RPE cells (ARPE-19). Polyurethane aqueous dispersions based on poly(caprolactone) and/or poly(ethylene glycol) as soft segments, and isophorone diisocyanate and hydrazine as hard segments were prepared. Polyurethane films were produced by casting the dispersions and allowing them to dry at room temperature for one week. The ARPE-19 cells were seeded onto the polyurethane films and they were investigated as supports for in vitro adhesion, proliferation, and uniform distribution of differentiated ARPE-19 cells. Additionally, the in vivo ocular biocompatibility of the polyurethane films was evaluated. The RPE adhered to and proliferated onto the polyurethane supports, thus establishing cell-PUD surface interactions. Upon confluence, the cells formed an organized monolayer, exhibited a polygonal appearance, and displayed actin filaments which ran along the upper cytoplasm. At 15 days of seeding, the occluding expression was confirmed between adjacent cells, representing the barrier functionality of epithelial cells on polymeric surfaces and the establishment of cell-cell interactions. Results from the in vivo study indicated that polyurethanes exhibited a high degree of short-term intraocular biocompatibility. Biodegradable polyurethane films display the proper mechanical properties for an easy transscleral-driven subretinal implantation and can be considered as biocompatible supports for a functional ARPE-19 monolayer.

Epoxy and polyurethane adhesive materials of elad, aquapol, and acrolat brands and their components

Different groups of chemical products developed and produced at the Macromer Scientific and Manufacturing Company are described and recommended for use in adhesive compositions, including reactive diluents for epoxy compositions, urethane prepolymers, binders for photocurable materials, aqueous polyurethane dispersions. The main characteristics of binders for glues are presented, as well as the prospects for their application in formulas of adhesive compositions.

Synthesis and Characterization of Anionic Polyester-Polyurethane Dispersion as Environmentally-Friendly Waterbased Resins

Aqueous polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) have recently emerged as important alternatives to their solvent-based counterparts for various applications due to increasing health and environmental awareness (green chemistry). Anionic polyester-polyurethane dispersions were synthesized by three steps. In the first step, macromonomer diisocyanate having carboxylic acid was prepared by isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) in percent of acetone as solvent and dibutyldtin dilaurate (DBTDL) as catalyst. Then, carboxylic polyurethane was prepared by reaction macromonomer diisocyanate having carboxylic acid with linear aliphatic polyester (Mw=2000), trifunctional polyester (Mw=2800) and butanediol (BDO) as chain extender. The next step involved neutralization and dispersion in water, where acidic polyurethane was neutralized by the addition of triethylamine (TEA). Factors influencing the synthesis of polyurethane dispersion mainly involve reaction temperature, reaction time, the concentration of catalyst, DMPA content and BDO content, were studied. The polymers have been characterized with DSC and FTIR.

Montmorillonite Clay-Based Polyurethane Nanocomposite As Local Triamcinolone Acetonide Delivery System

Biodegradable polyurethane was synthesized by preparing aqueous polyurethane dispersion having poly(caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol) as soft segments. Montmorillonite particles were delaminated within the waterborne polyurethane to produce a nanocomposite. The triamcinolone acetonide (TA), an important corticoid drug, was dispersed into the nanocomposite followed by a drying step to produce an implantable drug delivery system. Infrared (FTIR) results demonstrated that the original chemical structure of the TA was preserved after incorporation into the nanocomposite. Wide angle (WAXS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results suggested that TA and clay do not dramatically change the morphology phase of the polymer although they can interact with each other. The presence of montmorillonite particles in the nanocomposite reduced the rate of TA release as compared to the pure polyurethane and enhanced the mechanical properties of the polymer. The overall results indicate that montmorillonite clay-based polyurethane nanocomposite could be potentially applied as local TA delivery system.

Biodegradable polyurethane nanocomposites containing dexamethasone for ocular route

The treatment of posterior segment ocular diseases, such as uveitis, by using eye drops and oral drugs is usually not effective due to the body's natural barriers to drug penetration. In this study, ocular implants to treat uveitis were synthesized by incorporating dexamethasone acetate, an important type of corticoid used in the treatment of some uveitis, into a biodegradable polyurethane containi clay nanoparticles. Biodegradable polyurethane nanocomposites having poly(caprolactone) oligomers as soft segments were obtained by delaminating clay particles within a polyurethane aqueous dispersion. The drug was incorporated into the polymer by dispersing it in the waterborne polyurethane followed by a drying step. Nanoparticles derived from clay were demonstrated to be able to tailor the mechanical properties of polyurethanes to achieve values that can match the properties of ocular soft tissues. Infrared spectra (FTIR) showed that the presence of clay particles was able to change the microphase separation process typical of polyurethanes. X-ray diffraction and small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) results were explored to show that the incorporation of both dexamethasone acetate and nanocomponents derived from clay led to a less defined two-phase polyurethane. The presence of clay nanoparticles increased the rate of drug release measured in vitro. Human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) were cultured in contact with polyurethanes and polyurethane nanocomposites, and the viability of them (evaluated by using MTT assay after 7days) showed that no toxic components were released from polyurethanes containing no drugs during the test.

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan-based polyurethane elastomer dispersions

A number of aqueous polyurethane dispersions were synthesized by the reaction of poly(e-caprolactone) and isophorone diisocyanate, extended with different mass ratios of chitosan and dimethylol propionic acid. Their chemical structures were characterized by using FTIR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and thermal properties were determined by TGA. Incorporation of chitosan into the polyurethane backbone improved thermal stability. The hydrophilicity of the prepared polymers was also examined by contact angle measurements. For all samples, the contact angles increased by increasing the amount of chitosan. The increased contact angle is ascribed to the decrease of the hydrophilicity of the polyurethanes, which is reduced by the increasing amount of chitosan with respect to dimethylol propionic acid chain extender.

Effect of dicarboxylic acids on the performance properties of polyurethane dispersions

AbstractA series of low molecular weight linear polyester polyols were synthesized by using various diacids, neopentyl glycol, as a diol, and a trimethylol propane, as a branching monomer. Polyurethane dispersions were prepared primarily from isophorone diisocyanate, polyester polyol, and dimethylol propionic acid, as potential ionic center for water dispersibility, and were subsequently chain extended with ethylene diamine. The effect of polyester polyols based on variable diacids, on the physico‐chemical and thermal properties of polyurethane dispersions were evaluated by hardness, flexibility, impact resistance, solvent resistance, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Particle size was evaluated by particle size analyzer. It was observed that the number of alkylene groups present in the polyester polyol soft segment in addition to its molecular weight had a pronounced effect on the particle size, physico‐chemical, and thermal properties. With a proper selection of the soft segment, it is possible to fine‐tune properties of aqueous polyurethane dispersion coatings with respect to the final application. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010

Physical characteristics and properties of waterborne polyurethane materials reinforced with silk fibroin powder

AbstractDegummed silk filament was pulverized with a home‐made machine to obtain silk fibroin (SF) powder, and the structure, morphology, and particle size of the SF powder were investigated. The individual spherical particles and aggregates with different morphology of silk fibroin coexisted in water. A waterborne polyurethane (WPU) aqueous dispersion was blended with the SF powder to prepare novel blended materials with improved physical properties. The average particle size and zeta potential of the WPU/SF aqueous dispersions were characterized. The result showed that the WPU/SF dispersion with higher SF content exhibited a less negative zeta potential and a larger average particle size. Furthermore, the effect of SF content on the morphology, miscibility, and mechanical properties of the resulting blended films was studied by scanning electron microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and tensile testing. The films showed an improved Young's modulus and tensile strength from 0.3 to 33.8 MPa, and 0.6 to 5.2 MPa, respectively, with the increasing of SF up to a content of 26 wt %. The negative charges in the periphery and the small particle size made a good effort on dispersing SF powder into the WPU matrix as small aggregates, and the SF powder led to the efficient strengthening of WPU materials. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 940–950, 2010

Newly UV-curable polyurethane coatings prepared by multifunctional thiol- and ene-terminated polyurethane aqueous dispersions: Photopolymerization properties

A novel approach toward the preparation of newly UV-curable polyurethane coatings composed of multifunctional thiol- and ene-terminated polyurethane aqueous dispersions is presented. By a synergistic combination of polyurethane dispersions synthesis and thiol-ene chemistry, strategies for the preparation of newly UV-curable polyurethane coatings are developed. Photo-DSC, real-time FTIR, DMA and tensile tests measurements are used to investigate the photopolymerization and mechanical behaviors of newly UV-curable polyurethane coatings. The newly polyurethane coatings have 1.5 times higher polymerization rate and final 99% functional groups conversion in air conditions compared to current urethane-acrylate based UV-curable polyurethane dispersions coatings. UV-cured polyurethane films prepared by this method are also found to exhibit increase in Young's modulus and tensile strength at break by 25% and 10%, respectively. These experiment facts suggest that the incorporation of thiol-ene chemistry to the polyurethane dispersion coatings increase their polymerization rate, producing a high degree of cross-linking. This confirms the preparation of the targeted novel UV-curable polyurethane coatings and reveals the dramatic effect that changes in incorporation of thiol-ene chemistry can have on the photopolymerization behaviors of UV-curable polyurethane dispersions coatings systems.

Effect of the chain extender and selective catalyst on thermooxidative stability of aqueous polyurethane dispersions

Polyurethane aqueous dispersion based on poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) with catalysts of different selectivity were prepared by the conventional prepolymer isocyanate process. Two types of chain extenders were used, ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PG). The polyurethane dispersions were characterized using thermogravimetric dynamic method. In the dynamic method, heating rates of 0.5, 1, 2 and 10 °C/min were used in the range of 30–500 °C, and degradations of 0.025, 0.05, and 0.10 were considered. From the Arrhenius plots, activation energies were evaluated ranging between 23 and 117 kJ/mol at α ≥ 0.05 for polyurethane aqueous dispersion depending on the temperature interval, selectivity of catalyst, type of chain extender and degree of degradation. The polyurethane aqueous dispersion based on ethylene glycol as the chain extender, with the more selective catalyst shows higher thermal stability. The dynamic method offered evidence for the presence of different degradation processes and was suitable for the evaluation of kinetics parameters at higher degrees of degradation.

Synthesis and degradation profile of cast films of PPG-DMPA-IPDI aqueous polyurethane dispersions based on selective catalysts

Waterborne polyurethane (WBU) dispersions synthesized from poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA), and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) with catalysts of different selectivity were prepared via by the conventional prepolymer isocyanate process. Two types of chain extenders were used, ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PG), producing polyurethanes. The dispersions were neutralized by the addition of triethylamine. The thermal stability of the materials, obtained as cast films prepared from aqueous dispersions was evaluated by thermogravimetry (TG). It was observed that initial degradation temperatures were above 140 °C, with two-step degradation profiles. The use of a more selective catalyst in the formulations led to materials with higher thermal stability. DTG curves exhibited stages not perceptible in the curves of weight loss, which were mainly influenced by the differences in the formulations. Thermal decomposition of the obtained polyurethanes was followed by TG coupled with FTIR spectroscopy.

Morphology and particle size of nanograde polyurethane/polyacrylate hybrid emulsions

AbstractPoly(urethane acrylate) (PUA) composite particles were prepared by seeded surfactant‐free emulsion polymerization. The aqueous polyurethane (PU) dispersions were used as seed particles. The diameters of the seed particles of the aqueous PU dispersions and PUA composite latexes were measured by dynamic light scattering. The microstructures of the PUA composite emulsion particles were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The influences of the amount of the hydrophilic chain extender, the types of initiators, and the PU/polyacrylate (PA) weight ratios on the diameters of the aqueous PU and composite emulsions were also studied. The results showed that the PUA composite emulsions formed a core–shell structure with PU as the shell and with PA as the core. The diameter of the PU seed particles and the particle size of the PUA composite emulsions greatly depended on the amounts of the hydrophilic chain extender used in the preparation of the PU seed; when the hydrophilic chain extender concentration was 7.4%, the average diameter of the PUA composite emulsion particles showed the minimum value. The types of initiators and PU/PA weight ratios did not have a significant influence on the diameter of the PUA composite latex particles. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009

Properties of Aqueous Polyurethane Dispersion Modified by Epoxide Resin and Their Use as Adhesive

The aqueous polyurethane hybrid dispersion modified by the epoxy resin were synthesized using 1,4-butanediol ( BDO ) and dimethylolpropionic(DMPA) as chain extenders. A kind of automobile interior decoration adhesive was made by the modified hybrid dispersions. Effects of the content and the kinds of epoxide resin on the properties of dispersions and dispersion-cast films such as appearance, pot life, viscosity, particle size, molecular mass, hardness, swelling in water, contact angle, strength of stress, elongation at break, and other mechanical properties were studied. At the same time the effect of the E20 content on the peel strength of the adhesive for several automobile interior decoration substrates such as rubber/wood, poly(vinyl chloride)/wood; leather/wood, sponge/wood was investigated. The experimental results show that when the epoxy resin E20 content was 8%, the modified polyurethane hybrid dispersions possess better properties and the adhesive made by the modified dispersions posses better adhesion for automobile interior decoration substrates. The stress-strain curve of the modified aqueous polyurethane hybrid dispersions films shows the modified aqueous cast films possess better rigidity and toughness.

Newly UV-curable polyurethane coatings prepared by multifunctional thiol- and ene-terminated polyurethane aqueous dispersions mixtures: Preparation and characterization

A series of newly developed UV-curable polyurethane coatings were prepared by blending multifunctional thiol- and ene-terminated polyurethane aqueous dispersions. The composition, structure, solution stability and mechanical properties of the title coatings were characterized in detail by FT-IR, photo-DSC and DMA measurements. It was found that the resulting polyurethane coatings showed good solution stability and high photopolymerization activity even after a long time (i.e. 1 month). The incorporation of a waterborne polyurethane chain into the both multifunctional thiols and ene monomers promoted their solution stability and avoided any reaction between thiols and ene groups as a result of their high reacting activity in non-aqueous systems. UV-cured films prepared by this method were found to exhibit excellent physical properties with improvements over what can be attained directly with current UV-curable urethane–acrylate based systems. This method allows for the preparation of high performance UV-curable polyurethane aqueous coatings based on thiol-ene chemistry systems.

Comparative study between core–shell and interpenetrating network structure polyurethane/polyacrylate composite emulsions

Anionic aqueous polyurethane dispersion was prepared by using carboxyl acid group to make the polyurethane dispersible, and then nanograde core–shell and crosslinked IPN structure polyurethane/polyacrylate composite latex (PUA) were synthesized by soap-free emulsion polymerization method with polyurethane dispersion as seed. FTIR, DSC, dynamic light scattering, TEM, ESCA, TGA, electronic tensile machine were employed to investigate the structures and properties of the composite latex and their polymers. Meanwhile the core–shell composite PUA emulsion and the crosslinked IPN composite PUA emulsion were compared. The results showed that the particle morphology of PUA composite emulsion is inverted core–shell structure with polyacrylate as the core and with polyurethane as the shell. The morphology of the crosslinked PUA emulsion was multi-core structure. The surface in core–shell PUA contains rich PU phase. The phase structure of the crosslinked PUA is more uniform. Three transition temperatures are observed for the core–shell composite PUA, two transitions are observed for the film from the crosslinked PUA. The TGA curves of core–shell PUA and crosslinked PUA exhibit two stages, the first stage corresponds to the thermal decomposition of hard segments in seed polyurethane; the second stage corresponds to the decomposition of soft segments in PUA and decomposition of polyacrylate. With the increase of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) amounts in PUA composite emulsions, the tensile strength of the PUA films as well as the average diameter of the PUA composite emulsion particles increase, the elongation at break of the PUA films decreases.

Polyurethane–poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PU–PVDF) thin film composite membranes for gas separation

Aqueous polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), or mixed poly(dimethylsiloxane)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PDMS/PEG) as the soft segment were synthesized, and made into thin films for characterization with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogarvimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Seven thin film composite (TFC) membranes prepared on PUDs and PVDF substrates were evaluated by the separation of air as well as hydrocarbon–nitrogen mixtures. A promising membrane was then selected for further investigation of the morphological structure and permselectivities, using pure gases and binary mixtures of ethylene, ethane, propylene and propane with nitrogen at ambient temperature. It was found that PDMS/PEG-based PU membrane was typically solubility-selective for condensable hydrocarbons, and nitrogen permeance was marginally enhanced in hydrocarbon–nitrogen mixtures. It appears that the copolymer membrane with both urethane and PEG segments can effectively tolerate the swelling caused by the condensable gases. As a result, the selectivities of propylene and propane to nitrogen were substantially improved, e.g., in a mixture containing 28% propylene and 72% nitrogen, the selectivity of propylene to nitrogen reached 29.2 with a propylene permeance of 34.4 gas permeation unit (GPU).

Thermodynamic Equilibrium Morphology Prediction of Polyurethane/Polyacrylate Composite Latex Particles

AbstractComposite particles were prepared by seeded surfactant‐free batch emulsion polymerization at 80 °C using K2S2O8 as an initiator, and polyurethane aqueous dispersion as seed particles. The acrylate monomers were continuously added into the reactor under a starving condition in the second stage polymerization. The synthesized hybrid emulsions were found to form an inverted core‐shell structure with polyacrylate as the core and with polyurethane as the shell from the observation with a transmission electron microscope. The interfacial tensions between polymer and polymer as well as polymer and water were calculated with a simple method according to harmonic mean equation and used in a mathematical model based on the minimum interfacial energy change principle to predict the equilibrium morphology. The observed particle morphologies were in good agreement with the predicted ones. The surface properties of the dried films formed from polyurethane (PU)/polyacrylate (PA) composite emulsions were also studied by contact angle measurements, showing that the shell part of the composite emulsions is preferentially oriented toward the surface layers of the dried films.