EFFECTS OF A SOFT SEGMENT COMPONENT ON THE PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF SYNTHESIZED WATERBORNE POLYURETHANES BY USING TRIBLOCK ESTER-ETHER COPOLYDIOL AS THE SOFT SEGMENT

This paper examines the effect of an ester-ether soft segment structur e on the physical properties of synthesized WBPUs. The CET series, CPT series, and CMT series anionic waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) were pr epared with PCL-PEG-PCL, PCL-PPG-PCL, and PCL-PTMG-PCL triblock copoly diol as the soft segment. These copolydiols were synthesized from poly ethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG), or polytetramethyle ne glycol (PTMG), respectively, by end capping with caprolactone (CL). Particle size and its distribution, solvent absorption, thermal prope rties, and the mechanical properties of the WBPUs were studied. The pa rticle size of WBPU dispersion was in the sequence of CET > CPT > CMT series. The CET series WBPU had better phase mixing between the soft a nd hard segment, whereas the CMT series WBPU had good phase separation and better mechanical properties. In addition, both the phase mixing and mechanical properties increased with PCL content, except for the C MT series WBPU.