In Situ Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Waterborne Polyurethane Extended with Regenerated Cellulose Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mechanical Performances
The development of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) has been stimulated as an alternative to solvent-based polyurethanes due to low-VOC alternatives and reduced exposure to solvents. However, their relatively low mechanical performance and degradation have presented challenges in their wide application...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1541 |
| _version_ | 1797609385960144896 |
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| author | Soon Mo Choi Soo Young Lee Sunhee Lee Sung Soo Han Eun Joo Shin |
| author_facet | Soon Mo Choi Soo Young Lee Sunhee Lee Sung Soo Han Eun Joo Shin |
| author_sort | Soon Mo Choi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) has been stimulated as an alternative to solvent-based polyurethanes due to low-VOC alternatives and reduced exposure to solvents. However, their relatively low mechanical performance and degradation have presented challenges in their wide application. Here, we developed environmentally-friendly bio polyol-based WPU nanocomposite dispersions and films, and presented the optimal process conditions for their manufacture. Additionally, the condition was established without using harmful catalysts or ethyl methyl ketone (MEK) during the polymerization. Moreover, regenerated cellulose nanoparticles (RCNs) were employed as natural chain-extenders in order to improve the biodegradability and mechanical performances of the nanocomposite films. The RCNs have a lower crystallinity compared to cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), allowing them to possess high toughness without interfering with the elastomeric properties of polyurethane. The prepared CWPU/RCNs nanocomposite films exhibited high toughness of 58.8 ± 3 kgf∙mm and elongation at break of 240 ± 20%. In addition, depending on the molar ratio of NCO/OH, the polyurethane particle size is variously controlled from 70 to 230 nm, enabling to fabricate their dispersions with various transmittances. We believe that our findings not only open a meaningful path toward green elastomers with biodegradability but provides the design concept for bio-elastomers in order to develop industrial elastomers with mechanical and thermal properties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:59:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-edaf1609442d412fa2aa2641ca402d26 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:59:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-edaf1609442d412fa2aa2641ca402d262023-11-17T13:27:01ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-03-01156154110.3390/polym15061541In Situ Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Waterborne Polyurethane Extended with Regenerated Cellulose Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mechanical PerformancesSoon Mo Choi0Soo Young Lee1Sunhee Lee2Sung Soo Han3Eun Joo Shin4Research Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Polymer Science & Engineering, Pusan National University, Busandaehak-ro 63 Beon-gil 2, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Fashion Design, Dong-A University, 37 Nakdong-daero 550 Beon-gil, Busan 49315, Republic of KoreaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Dong-A University, 37 Nakdong-daero 550 Beon-gil, Busan 49315, Republic of KoreaThe development of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) has been stimulated as an alternative to solvent-based polyurethanes due to low-VOC alternatives and reduced exposure to solvents. However, their relatively low mechanical performance and degradation have presented challenges in their wide application. Here, we developed environmentally-friendly bio polyol-based WPU nanocomposite dispersions and films, and presented the optimal process conditions for their manufacture. Additionally, the condition was established without using harmful catalysts or ethyl methyl ketone (MEK) during the polymerization. Moreover, regenerated cellulose nanoparticles (RCNs) were employed as natural chain-extenders in order to improve the biodegradability and mechanical performances of the nanocomposite films. The RCNs have a lower crystallinity compared to cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), allowing them to possess high toughness without interfering with the elastomeric properties of polyurethane. The prepared CWPU/RCNs nanocomposite films exhibited high toughness of 58.8 ± 3 kgf∙mm and elongation at break of 240 ± 20%. In addition, depending on the molar ratio of NCO/OH, the polyurethane particle size is variously controlled from 70 to 230 nm, enabling to fabricate their dispersions with various transmittances. We believe that our findings not only open a meaningful path toward green elastomers with biodegradability but provides the design concept for bio-elastomers in order to develop industrial elastomers with mechanical and thermal properties.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1541stretchablewaterborne polyurethaneregenerated cellulosenanocomposite filmnatural fillerenvironmentally friendly |
| spellingShingle | Soon Mo Choi Soo Young Lee Sunhee Lee Sung Soo Han Eun Joo Shin In Situ Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Waterborne Polyurethane Extended with Regenerated Cellulose Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mechanical Performances Polymers stretchable waterborne polyurethane regenerated cellulose nanocomposite film natural filler environmentally friendly |
| title | In Situ Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Waterborne Polyurethane Extended with Regenerated Cellulose Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mechanical Performances |
| title_full | In Situ Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Waterborne Polyurethane Extended with Regenerated Cellulose Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mechanical Performances |
| title_fullStr | In Situ Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Waterborne Polyurethane Extended with Regenerated Cellulose Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mechanical Performances |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Situ Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Waterborne Polyurethane Extended with Regenerated Cellulose Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mechanical Performances |
| title_short | In Situ Synthesis of Environmentally Friendly Waterborne Polyurethane Extended with Regenerated Cellulose Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mechanical Performances |
| title_sort | in situ synthesis of environmentally friendly waterborne polyurethane extended with regenerated cellulose nanoparticles for enhanced mechanical performances |
| topic | stretchable waterborne polyurethane regenerated cellulose nanocomposite film natural filler environmentally friendly |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1541 |
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