Preparation of green waterborne polyurethane with improved hydrolysis repellency from CO2 derived amino-alcohol

Carbon dioxide based amino-alcohol compound (CO 2 -AA) with both alcohol and amino units in the molecular was prepared by chemical fixation of CO 2 with 1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether and ethylenediamine, which was further used as chain extender to the preparation of waterborne polyurethanes (CO 2 -WPUs). Since the reacting activity of isocyanate groups in WPU prepolymer with NH 2 was much faster than that with OH, hydroxyl groups could be maintained in the system and strengthen the hydrogen bonding interaction in WPU endowing the materials with some special properties. Specifically, the unique structure of CO 2 -AA improved mechanical, water/solvents resistance and hydrolysis/oxidation resistance properties of CO 2 -WPUs. Mechanical properties of the CO 2 -WPUs changed slightly during immersion in water, 0.25% NaOH and 6.00% H 2 O 2 solution, while the WPUs prepared from typical chain extender ethylenediamine almost lost their mechanical properties after immersed in the solutions for 5 h. Moreover, the CO 2 -WPU films showed considerable thermal stability. The study suggested the novel CO 2 -AA might be a promising chain extender to improve the water/solvent resistance and hydrolysis/oxidation resistance of WPU.