Structure and properties of polyurethane/polyacrylate latex interpenetrating networks hybrid emulsions

Some new kinds of novel polyurethane (PU)/polyacrylate (PA) latex interpenetrating networks (LIPNs) were synthesized. Firstly PU dispersions were synthesized by self-emulsification polymerization. Then PU/PA LIPNs using PU dispersion as the seed were prepared by soap free emulsion polymerization. The effects of different PU/PA ratios, the blending method and the NCO/OH molar ratio of PU components on PU/PA LIPNs performance were also investigated. The structure and properties of PU/PA LIPNs such as mechanical properties, particle size, morphology of the surface were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. It was found that PU/PA LIPNs can markedly improve the water resistance and the mechanical properties of PU latex much more than those of PU/PA physical blends due to a great deal of interpenetrating and entangling between PU and PA latex. Moreover, the particle size of PU/PA LIPNs is related to the PA content and NCO/OH molar ratio of PU components: the higher the NCO/OH molar ratio in PU dispersions, the larger is the particle size of PU/PA LIPNs, and the average particle size of PU/PA LIPNs becomes larger with an increase in PA content.