The effects of altered reaction conditions on the properties of anionic poly(urethane-urea) dispersions and films cast from the dispersions

Aqueous anionic polyurethane (PU) dispersions were synthesised from a polyester polyol, isophorone diisocyanate and alpha,alpha-dimethylol propionic acid using the prepolymer mixing process. Samples were neutralised by the addition of triethyl amine. The polymer chains were dispersed in water and extended with 1,2-ethylene diamine. The differences in the dispersion characteristics and the mechanical properties of the polymer films cast and dried from the dispersions caused by altered reaction conditions were determined. The reaction conditions proved to affect both the colloidal properties of the dispersions as well as the mechanical properties of the films. The neutralisation, the dispersion and the chain extension methods had all an influence on the average size of the formed PU particles. For the films, a change in the mechanical properties and probably in the amount of hard and soft domain separation was also observed. A good control over the properties was obtained by selecting the reaction parameters carefully. In particular, the dispersion method in which the prepolymer solution was added to water and not vice versa led to a considerably lower viscosity during the dispersion process. Thus a wider choice of raw materials was facilitated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.