A Self-Matting Waterborne Polyurethane Coating for PVC Artificial Leather

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Waterborne polyurethanes are increasingly used as eco-friendly coatings.
• Developing effective matte finishes for PVC artificial leather remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a polyester-based self-matting waterborne polyurethane (ESMWPU) for PVC artificial leather.
• To investigate the impact of synthesis parameters on coating properties and application performance.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of ESMWPU with varying R value, crosslinking, and hydrophilic group content.
• Characterization of coating gloss, transmittance, and surface morphology.
• Evaluation of adhesion and thermal resistance on plasticized PVC.

Main Results:

• Optimized ESMWPU (R=1.9, TMP=2 wt%, DMPA=1.75 wt%) exhibited a matte effect (0.8°) and high transmittance (78.5%).
• Synthesis parameters influenced latex particle morphology (stiffness, structure, size) during film formation.
• Achieved excellent wetting, adhesion, and thermal adhesion resistance on plasticized PVC.

Conclusions:

• ESMWPU offers a feasible and promising solution for matte coatings on PVC artificial leather.
• Control over synthesis parameters is crucial for achieving desired matte effect and performance.
• The developed ESMWPU demonstrates excellent application properties for artificial leather.