Synthesis and modification of waterborne polyurethane derived from hybrid CO₂-based polyols

Waterborne polyurethanes emulsions (WPU) based on polyethylene carbonate diol (PECD) were synthesized, characterized and modified by polypropylene carbonate diol (PPCD) and organosilicon KH-792. The mechanical, thermal and hydrolysis resistance properties of waterborne polyurethanes were comprehensively investigated. The results show that PECD based WPU has very excellent mechanical properties. The tensile strength and the elongation at break the PU was up to 73 MPa and 1040%, which was much higher than that reported for similar types of PPCD-based WPU. It was found that water absorption of PECD based WPU can be decreased dramatically, from 40.9% to 21.1%, after 50% PECD was replaced by PPCD, while tensile strength only decreased from 73.0 MPa to 63.4 MPa. The addition of KH-792 has great influence on PECD based WPU, when 1% KH-792 was added, the water absorption rate decreased from 21.1% to 11.88%, the mechanical strength remained at 63.3 MPa, the WPU film remained transparent after soaking in 80 ℃ hot water for 4 h.