Effect of Molecular Weight of WPU on the Heterogenic PUA Composite Latex Prepared by Soap-Free Emulsion Polymerization

Abstract

Aqueous acrylic-polyurethane (PUA) composite emulsion was prepared by soap-free seeded emulsion copolymerization. Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was used as the seeded emulsion and functioned as surfactant. The effect of molecular weight of WPU on the heterogenic was investigated. The molecular weight of WPU was controlled by varying the NCO/OH mole ratio. The GPC results confirmed that the molecular weight of WPU presented double distribution. And the molecular weight of WPU decreased with the increasing NCO/OH mole ratio. Surface tension test indicated that the molecular weight had little influence on the surface activity of WPU. However, after emulsion copolymerization of acrylic monomers, the morphology and properties of the PUA composite were impacted markedly by the molecular weight of WPU. With an increase in the NCO/OH mole ratio, the morphology of PUA composite latex changed from core-shell structures to fish bowl structure, and the mechanical properties of PUA films changed correspondingly.