Bio-Based Waterborne PU for Durable Textile Coatings

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Polyurethane (PU) coatings are vital for technical textiles, but traditional solvent-based and water-based options have environmental drawbacks.
• The increasing demand for sustainable materials and reduced CO2 emissions drives interest in bio-based polymers from renewable resources.
• Current applications of bio-based coatings on textiles remain limited, highlighting a need for viable alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of a bio-based anionic PU dispersion as an environmentally friendly substitute for petroleum-based PU in textile coating applications.
• To characterize the chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the novel bio-based PU coating.
• To evaluate the performance of the bio-based PU coating in terms of durability and resistance to various environmental factors.

Main Methods:

• Bio-based anionic PU dispersion was applied to textiles using the knife-over-roll coating technique.
• Chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties were assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile testing.
• Performance evaluation included antimicrobial properties, fire retardancy (ISO 15025), hydrostatic pressure resistance (initial and after washing), QUV ageing, and hydrolysis resistance tests.

Main Results:

• The bio-based PU coating demonstrated compliance with the ISO 15025 fire retardancy standard.
• Excellent resistance to hydrostatic pressure, QUV ageing, and hydrolysis was observed.
• The coating also exhibited good wash fastness at 40 °C, indicating robust durability.

Conclusions:

• The developed bio-based anionic PU dispersion presents a promising, eco-friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based PU coatings for technical textiles.
• The coating offers a favorable balance of performance properties, including durability, resistance, and fire retardancy.
• This research contributes to the advancement of sustainable materials in the textile industry.