Effect of nanosilica content on properties of polyurethane/silica hybrid emulsion and its films

Polyurethane/silica hybrid emulsion (PUSi) was synthesized by the reaction of isophorone isocyanate, polyether polyol, hydrophilic nanosilica (A200), dimethylol propionic acid, trimethylol propane, and 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550). The films of the waterborne polyurethane (WPU) were prepared. The structure of the polyurethane was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The particle size distribution and morphology of emulsion were examined. Influence of nanosilica content on the mechanical properties and solvent absorption of the cast films were also measured quantificationally. FTIR indicates that ? NH₂ of KH550 reacted with ? NCO of polyurethane. TG analysis indicates that nanosilica can improve thermal stability of polyurethane. There is no clear effect of nanosilica on the glass transition of soft segments. It was found that greater mechanical properties of WPU were obtained when chemical networks were formed by sol‐gel process. As the nanosilica content increases, water absorption and ethanol absorption decreased. The particle size increases with increase of A200 content. PUSi hybrid emulsions are endowed with pseudoplasticity. The apparent viscosity of emulsions increased and then decreased with addition of A200. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011