Synthesis and characterization of waterborne UV-curable polyurethane modified with side-chain triethoxysilane and colloidal silica

• A diol with side-chain triethoxysilane (HEA-APTES) was synthesized using 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTES).
• Polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites were prepared based on the HEA-APTES and aqueous colloidal silica.
• The silica nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed in the polyurethane (PU) films.
• The incorporation of HEA-APTES and silica enhanced mechanical and surface hydrophobic properties of PU films.

A series of siloxane modified waterborne UV-curable polyurethane (WUPU) and its nanocomposites were synthesized using a diol with side-chain triethoxysilane (HEA-APTES) derived from 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTES) and aqueous colloidal silica. The effects of HEA-APTES and silica on its colloidal, physico-chemical and surface properties were studied for WUPU and its nanocomposites. It was found that the incorporation of HEA-APTES enhanced Young modulus, tensile strength, surface hydrophobicity and water resistance of WUPU films. Furthermore, the introduction of silica nanoparticles further improved the modulus, tensile strength and water resistance of the HEA-APTES based WUPU films without damaging its surface hydrophobicity and transparency due to the homogeneous dispersion of silica clusters in the WUPU matrix.

Waterborne UV-curable polyurethanes nanocomposites were prepared using side-chain triethoxysilane and colloidal silica via inverse emulsification process. The silica nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed in the polyurethane (PU) films. The incorporation of side-chain triethoxysilane and silica enhanced mechanical and surface hydrophobic properties of PU films. SEM diagrams of the cross-section of the PU nanocomposite films.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide