PCL–PEG–PCL triblock ester–ether copolydiol-based waterborne polyurethane. II. Effect of NCO/OH mole ratio and DMPA content on the physical properties

This article was focused on the effects of the NCO/OH molar ratio and 2,2-bis(hydroxyl methyl) propionic acid (DMPA) content during prepolymerization on the physical properties of synthesized waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) by using the polycaprolactone–poly(ethyl glycol)–polycaprolactone triblock copolydiol (PCL–PEG–PCL) as the soft segment. The results showed that the particle size of the WBPUs' dispersion decreased with a decreasing NCO/OH molar ratio or increasing DMPA content. Regarding thermal and mechanical properties, the WBPUs had a higher T_g's and lower T_m's and a higher breaking stress and a lower breaking strain of film with the NCO/OH molar ratio or DMPA content increase. The increasing NCO/OH molar ratio was advantageous to the water vapor permeability (WVP)-breaking stress balance, but the effect of the DMPA content on the WVP was not significant. The WBPU with PCL–PEG–PCL as the soft segment had a smaller particle size in dispersion and a better WVP-breaking stress balance than those of WBPU with the blending PCL and PEG as the soft segment. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67:1301–1311, 1998