Synthesis and properties of waterborne polyurethane acrylate emulsions with high bio-based content

The bio-based hydrophilic monoglycerol succinate was synthesized and reacted with bio-based raw materials including polyols, pentamethylene diisocyanate, 1,4-butanediol, to prepare the waterborne polyurethane acrylate (Bio-WPUA) emulsions with high bio-based content. The effect of bio-based polyol categories including poly(trimethylene ether glycol), poly(tetrahydrofuran), and castor oil on the properties of Bio-WPUA and its films were studied. The structure, thermal stability, crystallinity, contact angle, and mechanical properties of Bio-WPUA film were characterized with fourier infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, contact angle analyzer, and mechanical tensile testing. It was found that Bio-WPUA film containing poly(trimethylene ether glycol) as the soft-segmented display good tensile stress, thermal stability, and water resistance with 1.38% of the water absorption rate, while Bio-WPUA containing castor oil polyol as the soft-segmented had good tensile strain and low-temperature film-forming properties with excellent film properties. The bio-carbon content of Bio-WPUA was high up to 40% according to ASTM D6866-22, and possesses good physical mechanical and chemical resistance performance. The results provide theoretical guidance for the synthesis of polyurethane emulsions with bio-based materials instead of petroleum-based materials.