Influence of bio-based 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid on the properties of water-borne polyurethane dispersions

Two sets of polyesters derived from 1,6-hexanediol, succinic acid, and varying amounts of a second aromatic dicarboxylic acid have been prepared. In the first set, isophthalic acid has been used as an established rigid building block for these types of materials. In the second set, isophthalic acid was replaced by the bio-based aromatic diacid 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. The structure and properties of the polyesters have been characterized. All polyesters prepared were subsequently used as polyols for the synthesis of water-borne polyurethane dispersions. Films were prepared from the aqueous dispersions to characterize the performance of the materials. It was observed that the bio-based 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid not only has similar beneficial effects on the thermal and mechanical properties of the polyurethane coatings, but in some cases, like pendulum hardness, tensile strength and glass transition temperature, it was even able to surpasses the properties of its fossil-based counterpart.

Automated summary

Two sets of polyesters were prepared from hexanediol, succinic acid, and a second aromatic dicarboxylic acid. Isophthalic acid was used as a rigid building block in the first set, while it was replaced by the bio-based 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid in the second set. The polyesters' structure and properties were characterized, and they were used as polyols to synthesize water-borne polyurethane dispersions. Films made from the dispersions showed that the bio-based acid had similar or even superior effects on the thermal and mechanical properties of the coatings compared to the fossil-based counterpart.