Synthesis and characterization of low crystalline waterborne polyurethane for potential application in water-based ink binder

Waterborne polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) with low crystallization and narrow nanoparticles distribution were synthesized from poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) via a environmental and simple process combined prepolymer isocyanate process with acetone process. For used as ink binder, the acid numbers of PUDs were analyzed. It was found that the acid number changed with the solid content and mainly increased with increasing hard-/soft-segment molar ratio. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1 NMR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric (TG), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM) measurements were utilized to characterize the bulk structures and thermal properties of PUDs. The results show that nanoscale waterborne polyurethane dispersions synthesized through the combined process have good thermal stability and weakly crystallinity, which is suitable for the use of water-based ink binder. The performance of PUDs can be optimized for the application as ink binder when the hard-/soft-segment molar ratio is 4 or 5. Crown Copyright (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.