Amphiphilic segmented polyurethanes as surface modifying additives

Amphiphilic segmented polyetherurethanes were prepared from methylene diphenylene diisocyanate (MDI), poly(ethylene glycol) 1500 (PEG), and a fatty acid monoglyceride as a chain extender. The polymers were not soluble in water or methanol, but dissolved readily in organic solvents. The amphiphilic properties were demonstrated as a large hysteresis in the water contact angles, exceeding 110°. The amphiphilic polymers were shown to modify the surface properties of a poly(ether urethane) (PEU) and a poly(ether urethane urea) (PEUU) when added in 1–10 wt %, presumably due to migration of the additive to the surface. The surfaces of particularly the PEU blends became highly amphiphilic, exhibiting contact angles hystereses up to 90–100°. A surface saturation effect was observed at 5% added amphiphilic polymer. A difference in the behavior of PEU and PEUU was ascribed to differences in solubility of the additive in the matrix. On long-term exposure to water the PEUU blends increased their amphiphilic behavior.