Preparation of Aqueous Polyurethane Dispersions Using Aromatic Diisocyanate

Aqueous polyurethane dispersions were prepared by the reaction of hydroxyl‐terminated poly(ethylene adipate), ethylene glycol, dimethylol propionic acid and aromaic diisocyante, 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate. The influence of molecular weight of oligoester and molar ratio between isocyanate and hydroxyl groups (NCO/OH) in the prepolymerization step were investigated. Molecular weight, particle size and particle size distribution were measured and compared. It was verified that the molecular weight increases with increasing in NCO/OH molar ratio. The results suggest that the hard segment content plays an important role in particle size and particle size distribution of the dispersions.