Aqueous dispersions of polyureaurethanes

• US 20060173151A1
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Invista North America Sarl (Invista)
• Original Assignee: Invista North America Sarl (Invista)
• Inventors: ONeill, Michael, Kim, Young H., Chen, Jiazhong
• Application Number:
  US10/700,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173151A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 528/44
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/0823 containing carboxylate salt groups or groups forming them
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/0866 the dispersing or dispersed phase being an aqueous medium
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/10 Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4854 Polyethers containing oxyalkylene groups having four carbon atoms in the alkylene group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/6692 with compounds of group C08G18/34

Abstract

Stable aqueous poly(urea/urethane) polymers and dispersions are made that do not require the inclusion of chain extenders, curing agents or crosslinking agents.

Claims

1. A urea/urethane polymer comprising (a) repeating units derived from a hydroxy-terminated copolymer prepared from tetrahydrofuran and one or both of an alkylene oxide and a cyclic acetal, and (b) repeating units derived from a polyisocyanate;

wherein the urea/urethane polymer contains less than about 2 mole percent of urea units described by the formula —

R—

N(R²)—

C(O)—

N(R²)—

R¹—

;

wherein R is an aromatic hydrocarbon radical, R¹ is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical, and R² is H or an amide group that is described by the formula —

C(O)—

N(R²)—

R—

; and

wherein the tetrahydrofuran is described by the formula

in which any one of the R⁴s may be a C₁ to C₄ alkyl radical with the remaining R⁴s being hydrogen.

2. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 1 wherein the polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of toluene diisocyanate, methylene diphenyldiisocyanate and polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate.

3. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 1 wherein the alkylene oxide is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propylene oxide and ethylene oxide.

4. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 1 wherein the alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide.

5. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 1 wherein each R⁴ in the tetrahydrofuran is hydrogen.

6. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 1 wherein each R⁴ in the tetrahydrofuran is hydrogen, the hydroxy-terminated copolymer is prepared from an alkylene oxide, and the alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide.

7. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 1 wherein the urea/urethane polymer contains less than about 1 mole percent of the described urea units.

8. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 1 wherein the urethane polymer further comprises repeating units derived from an ionic compound or a potentially ionic compound.

9. An aqueous dispersion of a urea/urethane polymer wherein the urea/urethane polymer comprises a polymer according to claim 1 and a surfactant.

10. An ionomeric urea/urethane polymer comprising (a) repeating units derived from an aliphatic polyether polyol having a molecular weight of about 700 to about 1500, and (b) repeating units derived from a polyisocyanate,

wherein the urea/urethane polymer contains less than about 2 mole percent of urea units described by the formula —

R—

N(R²)—

C(O)—

N(R²)—

R¹—

;

wherein R is an aromatic C₆-C₂₀ hydrocarbon radical, R¹ is an aliphatic C₁-C₂₀ hydrocarbon radical, and R² is H or an amide group that is described by the formula —

C(O)—

N(R²)—

R—

.

11. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 10 which comprises repeating units derived from an ionic compound or a potentially ionic compound.

12. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 11 wherein the ionic compound or potentially ionic compound comprises a hydroxy-carboxylic acid of the general formula (HO)_xR⁷(COOH)_y, wherein R⁷ represents a straight or branched hydrocarbon radical containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and x and y each independently represents values from 1 to 3.

13. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 11 wherein the ionic compound or potentially ionic compound comprises 2,2′

dimethanolpropionic acid.

14. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 10 wherein the polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of toluene diisocyanate, methylene diphenyldiisocyanate and polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate.

15. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 10 wherein the polyether polyol is described by the formula HO—

[(CR⁵H)_m—

O—

]_n—

H, wherein R⁵ is hydrogen, a halogen or a C₁ to C₄ alkyl radical;

m is 3 or 4; and

n is in the range of about 8 to about 20.

16. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 15 wherein R⁵ is hydrogen.

17. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 10 wherein the polyether polyol has a molecular weight in the range of about 900 to about 1150.

18. A urea/urethane polymer according to claim 10 wherein the urea/urethane polymer contains less than about 1 mole percent of the described urea units.

19. An aqueous dispersion of a urea/urethane polymer wherein the urea/urethane polymer comprises a polymer according to claim 10 and a surfactant.