Effect of Molecular Weight of WPU on the Heterogenic PUA Composite Latex Prepared by Soap-Free Emulsion Polymerization

Aqueous acrylic-polyurethane (PUA) composite emulsion was prepared by soap-free seeded emulsion copolymerization. Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was used as the seeded emulsion and functioned as surfactant. The effect of molecular weight of WPU on the heterogenic was investigated. The molecular weight of WPU was controlled by varying the NCO/OH mole ratio. The GPC results confirmed that the molecular weight of WPU presented double distribution. And the molecular weight of WPU decreased with the increasing NCO/OH mole ratio. Surface tension test indicated that the molecular weight had little influence on the surface activity of WPU. However, after emulsion copolymerization of acrylic monomers, the morphology and properties of the PUA composite were impacted markedly by the molecular weight of WPU. With an increase in the NCO/OH mole ratio, the morphology of PUA composite latex changed from core-shell structures to fish bowl structure, and the mechanical properties of PUA films changed correspondingly.     

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.     

Effects of flower-like ZnO nanowhiskers on the mechanical, thermal and antibacterial properties of waterborne polyurethane

A novel waterborne polyurethane/flower-like ZnO nanowhiskers (WPU/f-ZnO) composite with different f-ZnO content (0-4.0 wt%) was synthesized by an in-situ copolymerization process. The f-ZnO consisting of uniform nanorods was prepared via a simple hydrothermal method. In order to disperse and incorporate f-ZnO into WPU matrix, f-ZnO was modified with γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Morphology of f-ZnO in WPU matrix was characterized by scanning electron microscope. The properties of WPU/f-ZnO composites such as mechanical strength, thermal stability as well as water swelling were strongly influenced by the f-ZnO contents. It was demonstrated that appropriate amount of f-ZnO with good dispersion in the WPU matrix significantly improved the performance of the composites. The mechanical property was enhanced with an increase of f-ZnO content up to the optimum content (1 wt%) and then declined. Incorporation of f-ZnO enhanced the water resistance of the composites remarkably. It was amazing to observe that the thermal degradation temperatures of the composites initially decreased significantly and then leveled off with content increase of f-ZnO, which was different from the results of other WPU composite systems reported. Antibacterial activity of WPU/f-ZnO composite films against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was also tested. The results revealed that the antibacterial activity enhanced with the increasing f-ZnO content, and the best antibacterial activity was obtained at the loading level of 4.0 wt% f-ZnO.     

Preparation, characterization and electrochemical corrosion studies on environmentally friendly waterborne polyurethane/Na-MMT clay nanocomposite coatings

In this study, we present the first practical evaluation for the corrosion protection effect of waterborne polyurethane (WPU)/Na⁺-montmorillonite (Na⁺-MMT) clay nanocomposite coating. Typically, a series of waterborne polyurethane (WPU)/Na⁺-montmorillonite (Na⁺-MMT) clay nanocomposite materials have been successfully prepared by effectively dispersing the inorganic nanolayers of commercially purified Na⁺-MMT clay in WPU matrix through direct aqueous solution dispersion technique. First of all, WPU was prepared by polymerizing PCL, DMPA and H₁₂MDI, followed by characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Subsequently, the as-prepared PU/Na⁺-MMT clay nanocomposite (Na⁺-PCN) materials were subsequently characterized by FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).PCN materials in the form of coating at low Na⁺-MMT clay loading up to 3 wt% coated on the cold-rolled steel (CRS) coupons were found to exhibit superior corrosion protection effect over those of neat WPU based on a series of electrochemical measurements of corrosion potential, polarization resistance, corrosion current and impedance in 5 wt% aqueous NaCl electrolyte. Effects of the material composition on the gas permeability, thermal stability and optical clarity of neat WPU along with a series of Na⁺-PCN materials, in the form of coating and free-standing film, were also studies by gas permeability analyzer (GPA), thermogravimetric (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ultraviolet UV-visible transmission spectroscopy, respectively. As control experiments, a series of PU/organo-MMT nanocomposite (denoted by organo-PCN) materials were also prepared for comparative studies.     

Synthesis and characterization of waterborne polyurethane/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane composites with low dielectric constants

A facile method was developed to synthesize a new type of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). It contained a single amine group and seven aliphatic moieties on its corners. FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, ¹³C‐¹H COSY, and ¹H‐¹H COSY confirmed that cages with eight corners were the main part of the product. This new POSS was used to modify the structure of hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer and then copolymerized with hexamethylene diisocyanate and poly (tetramethylene glycol) to get a serious of waterborne polyurethane (WPU)/POSS hybrid materials with low dielectric constants for microelectronics applications. The results showed that POSS particles were uniformly dispersed in the WPU dispersions. The WPU/POSS films did not show any macrophase separation, even when the POSS content was as high as 16%. As the POSS content increased from 0% to 16%, the tensile strength was increased from 2.3 to 7.3 MPa, the dielectric constant was decreased from about 2.9 to 2.0, and the thermal stability of the WPU/POSS was also improved.     

聚氨酯脲-丙烯酸酯水分散液的粒径及形态研究

研究了羧基含量、异氰酸酯指数（［ － ＮＣＯ］／［ － ＯＨ］） 、聚氨酯脲与聚丙烯酸酯组成比（ＰＵＵ／ＰＡ） 以及一系列制备工艺因素对聚氨酯脲—丙烯酸酯（ＰＵＡ） 水分散液粒子尺寸及形态的影响。结果表明：羧基含量和ＰＵＵ／ＰＡ 组成比增大或异氰酸酯指数减小都会导致分散液粒径减小;ＰＵＡ 中ＰＡ 含量越大,ＰＵＡ 水分散液粒子形态越不规整;工艺因素如搅拌强度、升温速率等对ＰＵＡ 水分散液粒子尺寸及形态的影响不符合传统乳液聚合的规律。     

Hydrogen‐bonding,crystallinity, and morphological properties of poly(silicic acid)/waterborne polyurethane nanocomposites

Unique nanocomposites consisting of poly(silicic acid) nanoparticles (PNs) and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) were prepared. The aliphatic WPU prepared in this study was end‐capped with a silanol group, which could react with PNs via a sol–gel process. PNs were modified with phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) and 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl ester (TMPE) and then blended with WPU. The structure–property relationships were examined. Solid‐state ²⁹Si NMR spectra of WPU showed that structures T₁, T₂, and T₃ of WPU decreased and structures Q₃ and Q₄ of PN/WPU nanocomposites increased gradually. When the PN concentration increased to 10 wt %, PN/WPU nanocomposites exhibited the maximum fraction of hydrogen‐bonded carbonyl groups. In the PTMS–PN and TMPE–PN systems, the fraction of hydrogen‐bonded carbonyl groups fluctuated stably when the concentrations of PTMS–PN and TMPS–PN exceeded 5 wt %. The X‐ray diffraction results revealed that α‐form, γ‐form, or triclinic crystallization could be found in the WPU matrix. A differential scanning calorimetry spectrum showed that the crystalline structure of the hard segment of WPU was influenced by the nanoparticle concentration. The degrees of crystallinity were 88% for the PN/WPU nanocomposites, 41% for the PTMS–PN/WPU nanocomposites, and 54% for the TMPE–PN/WPU nanocomposites when the PN, PTMS–PN, and TMPE–PN concentrations were 5 wt %. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1076–1089, 2005     

具有核壳结构磁性复合微球的制备与表征

采用两步法制备了具有核壳结构的Fe3O4/P(MMA/DVB)(core)-P(St/GMA/DVB)(shell)磁性复合微球.首先,用改进的细乳液聚合制备了Fe3O4/P(MMA/DVB)微球;然后,加入总量不同的苯乙烯(St)、甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(GMA)和二乙烯基苯(DVB),通过种子乳液聚合,制备了不同磁含量的核壳结构的磁性复合微球.分别用X-射线衍射(XRD)、高倍透射电镜(HR-TEM)、热重分析(TGA)、振动样品磁力计(VSM)等手段对磁性微球的性能进行了表征.实验结果表明,Fe3O4/P(MMA/DVB)微球的磁含量为84 wt%;通过改变加入壳层单体的量,核壳复合微球的磁含量可控在20 wt%~76 wt%之间.该微球具有超顺磁性,相应的饱和磁化强度为12~50Am2/kg.     

Surface characteristics of chitin-based shape memory polyurethane elastomers

Shape memory polyurethanes (SMPUs) were prepared from polycaprolactone diol 4000 (PCL 4000), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), chitin, dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), triethylamine (TEA) and 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), and the structures of the synthesized materials were verified by infrared spectroscopy. The effects of chitin and DMPA contents in the polyurethane formulation on surface properties were investigated. DMPA provides function of making hydrophilic polyurethanes. The crystalline structure of chitin enhanced the hydrophobicity of the synthesized materials. Contact angle, water absorption, surface free energy, work of water adhesion and swelling behavior of the synthesized polyurethanes were affected by varying the DMPA and chitin contents. The interactions of the PU films with solvents on the surface were clearly related to the contents of DMPA and chitin in the final polyurethane formulation.     

大分子不饱和单体法合成具有核壳结构的丙烯酸酯/聚氨酯乳液及表征

采用丙烯酸酯（AC）对水性聚氨酯（WPU）进行改性,合成了接枝型丙烯酸酯/聚氨酯(PUA)复合乳液。 随着共聚物中丙烯酸酯质量分数的增加,乳液外观由透明变为不透明,乳液粒径随之增大、分布变宽。 TEM显示,PUA乳胶粒子呈现清晰的核壳结构,且形态规整,粒径分布在60~120 nm之间。 FTIR测试表明,随着丙烯酸酯质量分数的增加,聚氨酯(PU)硬段氢键化作用先增强后减弱,硬段的有序度逐渐降低。 DSC分析表明,当AC的质量分数低于75%时,PU、聚丙烯酸酯(PA)两组分相容性较好,只出现一个玻璃化转变温度,并且随着PA质量分数的增加逐渐升高。 PA质量分数的增加,使胶膜的最大热失重速率从363 ℃提高至412 ℃,吸水率从11.3%降低至5.7%,弹性模量从16.4 MPa提高至47.6 MPa,拉伸强度从9.0 MPa提高至23.7 MPa,断裂伸长率从365%提高至408%,同时乳液的粘度下降,干燥时间变短,胶膜的附着力变好。     

Poly(vinyl chloride) composite emulsion resins modified by polyurethane

An ionomer-type of polyurethane (PU) emulsion was prepared from toluene diisocyanate (TDI), polypropylene glycol (PPG) and dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) following a self-emulsification process. The modified poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) emulsion resin was obtained by in situ emulsion copolymerization using the PU as seeds in an autoclave. The effects of PU molecular weight on the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the PU/PVC materials were investigated. The composite latex particles and composite materials were determined and characterized using a laser particle size analyzer, transmission electron microscopy or scanning electron microscopy. The study results showed that the PU/PVC hybrid emulsion particles possess a core/shell structure. When the general mechanical properties of the composite materials increase, the thermal stabilities decrease a little. The tough fractures on the surface of the PU/PVC composite sample following impact are quite obvious. __________ Translated from Journal of Hebei Normal University (Natural Science Edition), 2007, 31(2): 228–232 [译自: 河北师范大学学报(自然科学版)]     

丙烯酸酯改性水性聚氨酯乳液的制备及性能研究

采用共聚的方法制备出丙烯酸酯改性的水性聚氨酯共聚乳液(PUA乳液),并对PUA乳液的制备方法和工艺、耐溶剂性、机械稳定性进行了初步的研究。结果表明,具有IPN结构的PUA乳液耐溶剂性、机械稳定性比水性PU有明显的提高。     

A novel approach to fluorinated polyurethane by macromonomer copolymerization

For the first time, through macromonomer radical copolymerization, a novel fluorinated polyurethane (FPU) was synthesized based on partly acrylate-endcapped polyurethane macromonomers with hexafluorobutyl acrylate (HFBA). Partly acrylate-endcapped polyurethane (PU) macromonomers were synthesized using isophronediisocyanate (IPDI), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), polyethylene adipate glycols (PEA) etc. The novel fluorinated polymer, which bore PU side chains and fluorinated side chains, was confirmed by F¹⁹ NMR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis, scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM) etc. Copolymerization of polyurethane macromonomers with hexafluorobutyl acrylate (HFBA) was briefly investigated. The surface tension of FPU solution was measured and showed sharply decrease compared to that of pure polyurethane. Results from SEM showed a uniform size distribution of phase micro-domains on the fracture surface of FPU.     

水性聚氨酯硬段含量对其氢键相互作用及性能的影响

异佛尔酮二异氰酸酯（IPDI）、二羟甲基丙酸(DMPA)作为硬段,合成了水性聚氨酯。 研究了硬段含量（质量分数）对乳液稳定性、膜耐热和力学性能等的影响。 当硬段质量分数低于26%时,乳液贮存稳定性较差。 随着硬段含量增加,聚氨酯膜拉伸强度迅速增加,断裂伸长率略有降低;红外光谱显示,自由的N-H伸缩振动峰强度减弱,氢键化N-H的振动峰强度增加;同时C=O伸缩振动峰整体向低波数方向移动,C=O伸缩振动峰峰形有明显的变化;DSC测试在50～125 ℃出现明显的氢键解离现象,吸热峰增强,证实了氢键作用力随着硬段含量的增加逐渐增强。 TG测试表明,水性聚氨酯硬段和软段分步解离,随着硬段含量的增加,硬段分解温度降低,水性聚氨酯耐热性能下降。     

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

Degummed 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     

Self-assembled fabrication and flame-retardant properties of reduced graphene oxide/waterborne polyurethane nanocomposites

The graphite oxide (GO) was prepared from expandable graphite by the pressurized oxidation method, and samples were characterized using XRD, UV–Vis, and TEM. GO is reduced in situ emulsion using hydrazine to achieve reduced graphene oxide/waterborne polyurethane (rGO/WPU) nanocomposites. The effect of rGO content on the stability, fracture morphologies, mechanical performance, thermal degradation, and flame-retardant properties of rGO/WPU composites was investigated by zeta potential analyzer, TEM, SEM, universal testing machine, TG, and Cone Calorimeter. The results of zeta potential, TEM, and SEM analysis indicate that rGO has a good stability and dispersibility in rGO/WPU nanocomposites. The results of mechanical tests showed that the mechanical properties of rGO/WPU nanocomposites increased consistently with increasing rGO content up to 2 mass%, and TG showed that the thermostability of rGO/WPU nanocomposites decreased slightly compared to pure WPU, but carbon residue increased from 0.99 to 1.99 % when the mass fraction of rGO in WPU is 2 %. Cone Calorimeter test indicated that the flame-retardant and smoke suppression properties of rGO/WPU composites showed significant improvement compared to the WPU alone. When the mass fraction of rGO is 1 %, the total smoke release and smoke factor decreased by 25 and 38 %, respectively, compared to those of pure WPU.     

Hybrids of colloidal silica and waterborne polyurethane

Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was synthesized and followed by adding colloidal silica to prepare WPU-silica hybrids. The silica content in the hybrid thin films was varied from 0 to 50 wt%. The experimental results revealed that the viscosity of these hybrid solutions increased with increasing silica content and resulted in the aggregation of silica particle in the hybrid films. The latter result was evidenced by SEM examination. The effect of interaction between silica particle and urethane polymer chains is more significant with increasing silica content. The prepared hybrid films show much better thermal stability and mechanical properties than pure WPU. The optical transparence did not linearly decrease with increasing the silica fraction in the hybrid thin film. At below 20% silica content, the film transparence decreased with increasing silica content; the converse is true at above 20% silica content. These results showed that the prepared hybrid films demonstrated tunable transparence with the silica fraction in the films.     

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

The 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.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of antimony doped tin oxide/waterborne polyurethane nanocomposite films as heat insulating materials

The waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was synthesized from the polycondensation between isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and polyoxypropylene glycol (N‐210) and then dispersed into water. Subsequently, the WPU emulsion was modified with antimony doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticle by ultrasonic dispersion. The ATO/WPU emulsion was cast onto Teflon molds. After being dried, ATO/WPU films were prepared. TEM indicated that the ATO nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed in the polymer matrix at the nanometer scale. DSC showed that the ATO/WPU nanocomposites displayed increased glass transition temperatures compared to the control WPU. The mechanical properties of the films were characterized by dynamic‐mechanical analysis (DMA). The higher glass transition temperature and storage modulus indicates the superior mechanical properties of WPU modified by ATO nanoparticles over the conventional unmodified WPU. The thermal behaviors of the films were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It could be found that the incorporation of ATO into WPU can improve the thermal stability dramatically. The results from UV–visible–near infrared spectra indicated that the ATO/WPU films could decrease the infrared transmission effectively. The heat‐insulation measurements showed that glass coated with ATO/WPU films possessed better heat‐insulating effect than empty glass. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal and pH responsive high molecular weight poly(urethane‐amine) with high urethane content

Aliphatic poly(urethane‐amine) (PUA) was synthesized from copolymerization of CO₂ and 2‐methylaziridine (MAZ) using Y(CCl₃COO)₃‐ZnEt₂‐glycerine coordination catalyst, the urethane content of PUA was over 80%, and its yield could reach 90%. PUA with molecular weight as high as 31.0 kg/mol was obtained when the copolymerization reaction was carried out in N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), mainly due to the good solubility of PUA in DMAc. PUA exhibited reversible thermo‐responsive property in deionized water, and the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) was highly sensitive to its urethane content and molecular weight, which was observed in a broad window from 37 to 90 °C. Furthermore, the phase transition behavior could also be controlled by change of pH value. When the pH value of the PUA aqueous solution changed from 9.2 to 13, the LCST value of the solution decreased from 48.4 °C to 30 °C. Therefore, the PUA showed thermo‐ and pH‐ dual responsive performance in water. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011