From Castor Oil-Based Multifunctional Polyols to Waterborne Polyurethanes: Synthesis and Properties

A novel castor oil-based multifunctional polyol (CM) is fabricated through mild thiol-ene photo induced reactions using castor oil (CO) and 1-thioglycerol (MPD) as building blocks. The effect of the reaction time, molar ratio of thiol to carbon–carbon double bond, and the loadings of photo-initiator are optimized. The resulting CM is combined with CO and employed as cross-linkers to prepare castor oil-based water-borne polyurethane emulsion with desirable mechanical properties and water resistance. Owing to the incorporation of CM cross-linker with high hydroxyl value of 371 mg KOH/g (which is 2.27 times higher than that of the CO), the prepared castor oil-based waterborne polyurethane (CMWPU) possesses compacted 3D network structure with high cross-linking degree, leading to improved glass transition temperature (45 °C), tensile strength (10.8 MPa), water contact angle (87.4°), and decreased water absorption rate (16.12%) with 20% CM additions. Overall, this work illustrates the feasibility of introducing bio renewable CM combined with CO to develop castor oil-based WPU employing a sustainable development strategy.