UV-curable PDMS-containing PU system for hydrophobic textile surface treatment

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a super-hydrophobic material with low surface energy. UV-curable PDMS-containing polyurethane (PU) oligomer (UV-PDMS-PU), having a PDMS moiety is designed for textile (PET and Nylon) surface treatment with a long lasting hydrophobic property. UV-PDMS-PU was prepared by an addition of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA) to NCO-terminated PDMS-containing PU pre-polymer (NCO-PDMS-PU). NCO-PDMS-PU was obtained from an addition reaction of alkyl hydroxyl-terminated PDMS with an excess amount of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). UV-PDMS-PU system consisted of 1% (w/w) photo-initiator that was coated either on glass plate or textile and then cured by UV-radiation. The UV-cured PDMS-containing PU films were evaluated by the measurements of thermal and physical properties. The hydrophobic characters and silicone content were remained on textile surface after water washing cycles, which indicating that UV-curing process can help the PDMS moiety to anchor onto textile fibers.