A breathable waterborne poly-(urethane/urea) coating containing PO-EO-PO triblock copolymer

Abstract

A breathable waterborne poly-(urethane/urea) (WPU) coating for textiles was synthesized by a pre-polymer method with 4,4′-Diisocyanate dicyclohexylmethane (H12MDI), Poly(propylene oxide)b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide) triblock diols (PO-EO-PO diols), and Polyteramethylene glycol (PTMG). The PO-EO-PO diols were incorporated into the WPU to improve the swelling issue of frequently observed in the polyethylene glycol (PEO) segments. The stability, mechanical property, thermal properties, and breathability of PO-EO-PO, including WPUs were investigated by varying PTMG/PO-EO-PO diol ratios. The PO-EO-PO incorporated WPUs showed excellent mechanical properties: 250% of tensile elongation and breaking stress of 15–27 MPa. The breathability reached 620–15 000 mm of water pressure resistance H2O and 2717–63 822 g H2O 24 h m-2 of vapor permeability. The highly breathable, WPU coating contained with different PO/EO fraction of PO-EO-PO diols will play an essential role in the garment-textile industry to convert to a greener process.