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Waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) dispersions were prepared by pre-polymer process using siloxane polyol, namely polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and polyester polyol, namely poly(tetramethyleneadipate glycol) (PTAd), as a soft segment. Three different molecular weights (Mn = 550, 6000, 110,000) of PDMS and one fixed molecular weight of PTAd (Mn = 2000) was used during preparation of WBPU dispersions. This research aims to explore the potential use of PDMS in complementing WBPU by boosting flexibility, water resistance, and adhesive strength. The water swelling (%), tensile strength, and adhesive strength of WBPUs were investigated with respect to PDMS molecular weight and PDMS content (PDMS mol %). The water swelling (%) and tensile strength decreased with increasing PDMS molecular weight at a fixed PDMS content (mol %) in mixed polyol of WBPU films. By contrast, the peel adhesive strength peaked at 6.64 mol % and 4.43 mol % with molecular weight of PDMS at 550 and 6000, respectively, while it only decreased when the molecular weight of PDMS stood at 110,000. The adhesive strength was almost unaffected with optimum content (6.64 mol %) of lower PDMS molecular weight (Mn = 550) in mixed polyol-based WBPU after immersing the adhesive bonded nylon fabrics in water for 48 h among all of the samples. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

Three series of isocyanate-reactive waterborne polyurethane adhesives were prepared with various contents of chain extender (4.25/8.25/12.50 mol %) and polyol (20.75/16.75/12.50 mol %). Each series had a fixed amount of excess (residual) NCO group (0.50–2.00 mol %). FTIR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy identified the formation of urea crosslink structure mainly above 80°C of various cure temperatures (20–120°C) with excess diisocyanate. The molecular weight, tensile strength, Young's modulus, and adhesive strength depend on excess NCO content and cure temperature and also varied with polyol and chain extender content. The optimum cure temperature was 100°C for all the samples. The tensile strength, Young's modulus, and adhesive strength increased with increasing cure temperature above 60°C up to the optimum temperature) (100°C) and then almost leveled off. Among all the samples, the maximum values of tensile strength, Young's modulus, and adhesive strength were found with 63.22 wt % polyol, 0.93 wt % chain extender, and 1.50 mol % excess (residual) NCO content at 100°C optimum cure temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009

A series of waterborne polyurethane (WBPU)/clay nanocomposite coating materials were prepared by prepolymer process with different clay contents (0–2 wt %). The study investigated surface structure as well as water resistance, thermal, mechanical, and water vapor permeability (WVP) of composite materials as a function of clay contents. The glass transition temperature of composite materials was higher than pristine WBPU and also increased with increasing clay contents. Thermal stability, and water resistance of the nanocomposite films also increased, when compared with pristine WBPU, and these properties increased with an increase in clay content. The maximum tensile strength was found with optimum clay content (1 wt %) of composite films. The WVP of coated nylon fabrics depend on the clay content and temperatures. The rate (%) of WVP of coated nylon fabrics decreased with increasing clay content at a fixed temperature. However, at a fixed clay content the WVP increased with the increase of temperatures. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008

Interchain crosslinking in a grafted low-density polyethylene and millable polyurethane blend is reported. The interchain crosslinking was studied by torque rheometry and IR spectra. The mechanism of interchain crosslinking was suggested based on the IR spectra. Interchain crosslinking improves thermal stability, which was measured by differential scanning calorimetry. Tensile strength increased but the swelling coefficient decreased with increased interchain crosslinking. The degree of interchain crosslinking is higher for the glycidyl acrylate grafted sample than for the maleic anhydride grafted sample.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/clay nanocomposites were synthesized using the solution intercalation method. Na ion-exchanged clays [Na+–saponite (SPT) and Na+–montmorillonite (MMT)] and alkyl ammonium ion-exchanged clays (C12–MMT and C12OOH–MMT) were used for the PVA nanocomposites. From the morphological studies, the Na ion-exchanged clay is more easily dispersed in a PVA matrix than is the alkyl ammonium ion-exchanged clay. Attempts were also made to improve both the thermal stabilities and the tensile properties of PVA/clay nanocomposite films, and it was found that the addition of only a small amount of clay was sufficient for that purpose. Both the ultimate tensile strength and the initial modulus for the nanocomposites increased gradually with clay loading up to 8 wt %. In C12OOH–MMT, the maximum enhancement of the ultimate tensile strength and the initial modulus for the nanocomposites was observed for blends containing 6 wt % organoclay. Na ion-exchanged clays have higher tensile strengths than those of organic alkyl-exchanged clays in PVA nanocomposites films. On the other hand, organic alkyl-exchanged clays have initial moduli that are better than those of Na ion-exchanged clays. Overall, the content of clay particles in the polymer matrix affect both the thermal stability and the tensile properties of the polymer/clay nanocomposites. However, a change in thermal stability with clay was not significant. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 3208–3214, 2003

In this work, blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) were prepared. LLDPE was used as an impact modifier. Since the system was found to be incompatible, compatibilization was sought for by the addition of the following two types of functionalized polyethylene: ethylene vinylacetate copolymer (EVA) and maleic anhydride-grafted EVA copolymer (EVA-g-MAH). The effects of the compatibilizers on the rheological and mechanical properties of the blends have been also quantitatively investigated. The impact strength of the PBT–LLDPE binary blends slightly increased at a lower concentration of LLDPE but increased remarkably above a concentration of 60 wt % of LLDPE. The morphology of the blends showed that the LLDPE particles had dispersed in the PBT matrix below 40 wt % of LLDPE, while, at 60 wt % of LLDPE, a co-continuous morphology was obtained, which could explain the increase of the impact strength of the blend. Generally, the mechanical strength was decreased by adding LLDPE to PBT. Addition of EVA or EVA-g-MAH as a compatibilizer to PBT–LLDPE (70/30) blend considerably improved the impact strength of the blend without significantly sacrificing the tensile and the flexural strength. More improvement in those mechanical properties was observed in the case of the EVA-g-MAH system than for the EVA system. A larger viscosity increase was also observed in the case of the EVA-g-MAH than EVA. This may be due to interaction of the EVA-g-MAH with PBT. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 989–997, 1999