Effect of polyisocyanate hardener on waterborne polyurethane adhesive containing different amounts of ionic groups

Waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) adhesive with varying amounts of dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) was synthesized by prepolymer process and blended with polyisocyanate hardener. The mean particle size of the WBPU dispersion decreased with increasing DMPA content. H-1 NMR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of allophanate bonds and biuret bonds due to the reaction of hardener NCO with urethane/urea groups. The optimum NCO content with the greatest adhesive strength was dependent on the total content of urethane/urea groups in the WBPU molecules. The optimum NCO content increased with increasing number of urethane groups (DMPA content). The adhesion strength of WBPU adhesives was maximized at a molar ratio of hardener NCO to urethane/urea of about 0.28.