Synthesis and properties of grafted latices from a soybean oil-based waterborne polyurethane and acrylics

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 119; no. 6; pp. 3305 - 3314
• Main Authors: Lu, Yongshang, Larock, Richard C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 15.03.2011; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Copolymerization; Dispersions; emulsion polymerization; Exact sciences and technology; latex; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Monomers; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers; Polymers with particular properties; Polyols; Polyurethane resins; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Renewable resources; soybean oil; Soybeans; waterborne polyurethane; Acrylic copolymer; Coating material; Emulsion copolymerization; Property composition relationship; Mechanical properties; emulsion polymerization; Vegetable oil; Tensile property; Experimental study; Urethane copolymer; Polyaddition; Latex; Thermal stability; Thermal properties; waterborne polyurethane; Morphology; Preparation; Prepolymer; Acid copolymer; Polyol; Radical copolymerization; Soybean oil; Aqueous dispersion
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.29029

A novel soybean oil-based vinyl-containing waterborne polyurethane (VPU) dispersion has been successfully synthesized from toluene 2,4-diisocyanate, dimethylol propionic acid and a 90 : 10 mixture of chlorinated soybean oil-based polyol and acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO). Then, a series of VPU/acrylic grafted latices have been prepared by emulsion graft copolymerization of acrylic monomers (40 wt % butyl acrylate and 60 wt % methyl methacrylate) in the presence of the VPU dispersion, using potassium persulfate as an initiator. The structure, morphology, and thermal and mechanical properties of the resulting latices, containing 15-60 wt % soybean oil-based polyols as a renewable resource, have been investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, and mechanical testing. The results indicate that graft copolymerization of the acrylic monomers onto the VPU network occurs during emulsion polymerization, leading to a significant increase in the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the resulting miscible grafted latices. This work provides new environmentally-friendly latices from a renewable resource with high performance for coating applications.