| Abstract: | The reaction of methylene diphenylene diisocyanate with ethylene glycol, dimethyl dimethoxysilane, dimethyl diethyloxysilene, and other additives in the presence of N,N‐dimethylformamide and toluene to form the structure of water‐vapor‐permeable polyurethane (PU) resin was proven with Fourier transform infrared spectra. Experimental results clearly showed that the amount of oxygen that permeated the film made with the PU resin increased with an increase in the concentration of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, or triethylene glycol. This was due to an increased number of hydrophilic groups attached to the backbone of the PU resin molecules. These hydrophilic groups, because of the intermolecular interactions between PU resin molecules, made PU resin molecules form an expanded conformation with large porosities. Interestingly, the water vapor permeability of the PU resin appeared to increase with an increasing concentration of ethylene glycol, dimethyl dimethoxysilane, or dimethyl diethoxysilane but not to increase with an increasing concentration of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, or poly(ethylene glycol) with dimethyl dimethoxysilane. The former was due to intermolecular interactions resulting in an expanded conformation with large porosities, but the latter was due to intramolecular interactions resulting in a compact conformation or a micellelike structure with small porosities. Therefore, the water vapor permeability of the former increased, but the latter remained unchanged or decreased. Our experimental results suggest that the use of poly(ethylene glycol) 400, ethylene glycol, dimethyl dimethoxysilane, and other strong hydrophilic compound in the preparation of modified PU resins substantially raises the amount of water vapor diffusing into films made with these resins. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2002–2010, 2002 |
