Two-dimensional nanosheets functionalized water-borne polyurethane nanocomposites with improved mechanical and anti-corrosion properties

Abstract

Waterborne polyurethanes (WPU) have been widely applied in adhesive, leather, paints, leathers, textiles, and coatings. Herein, the reinforcement of 2 D nanosheets, graphene (Gr), graphene oxide (GO) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on the water resistance, mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of WPU was studied via in situ polymerization method with the loading amount of 0.25 wt%. Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed no obvious changes in the internal structure of WPU incorporated with these 2 D nanosheets. The scanning electron microscope demonstrates a relatively homogeneous dispersion of h-BN in the WPU matrix. It is clear from the results that the resistance to water, mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of WPU were prominently improved by the incorporation of these nanosheets, especially h-BN, which was ascribed to its homogenous dispersion in WPU matrix and interface adhesion between polymer and filler. In the presence of 0.25 wt% h-BN, the water-absorption rate of WPU decreased from 37.3% to 15.7%, and the tensile strength improved from 4.16 MPa to 19.56 MPa. In conclusion, h-BN might be considered as an ideal nano-filler for WPU as compared to Gr and GO.

Keywords:

• Waterborne polyurethane
• graphene
• graphene oxide
• hexagonal boron nitride
• reinforcement
• anti-corrosion properties

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Foundation of Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Palygorskite Science and Applied Technology (No. HPK201404), the Foundation of Jiangsu Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Materials of Salt Chemical Industry (No. SF201502), the Foundation of Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (NO. HGYK201801), and the Science and Technology Foundation of Huai’an City (HABZ201705).