Practical two‐step chain extension method to prepare sulfonated waterborne polyurethanes based on aliphatic diamine sulphonate.

We reported a novel synthesis route to fabricate sulfonated aliphatic waterborne polyurethane dispersions (SWPU) only based on 2‐[(2‐aminoethyl) amino] ethane sulphonate sodium (AAS‐Na) by two‐step chain extension method with the assistance of acetone and water cosolvent. When AAS‐Na was added, only less than 50% of AAS‐Na was incorporated into polyurethane chain in the first‐step chain extension and the residual AAS‐Na formed molecular aggregates which were insoluble in acetone due to the high polarity of AAS‐Na. Subsequently, the mixture of acetone and water was added, the residual AAS‐Na aggregates dissolved, undertaking the further second‐step chain extension reaction, and the ultimate reaction conversion of AAS‐Na rose to more than 90%. The mechanism for acetone and water cosolvent to affect the preparation of SWPU dispersions was studied, as well as the water resistance, mechanical properties and hydrolysis resistance of as‐prepared SWPU dispersions. With the decrease of AAS‐Na content from 2.0% to 1.2%, the peak area of the melting peaks for SWPU films increased, as well as the water resistance. And the as‐prepared polyester SWPU exhibited good hydrolytic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]