Antimicrobial Polyurethane Films Based on Quaternary Ammonium Salts Functionalized Soybean Oil

Abstract In the context of diligent effort to develop active coating materials that have the potential to minimize the spread of bacterial infection, antibacterial polyurethane films based on soybean polyols are successfully prepared and characterized. Particularly, the epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) is modified with N , N ‐dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA) or N , N ‐diethylaminoethanol (DEAE) to give two bio‐derived tertiary amine functionalized polyols (AmSBO and AlSBO, respectively). Subsequently, the synthesized bio‐derived tertiary amine functionalized polyols (AmSBO and AlSBO) are quaternized with methyl iodide for antibacterial effectiveness. The FTIR and 1 H NMR results of functional polyols display significant transesterification and aminolysis (amide formation) in addition to the ring‐opening reaction of the oxirane ring. The polyurethane films are prepared by reacting these functional polyols with isocyanate prepolymer based on methylene‐bis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI). The realized polyurethanes are successfully applied as functional coatings on polypropylene films. In addition, free‐standing polyurethane films are obtained and their thermal, optical, and barrier properties are studied. Moreover, the polyurethane films displayed significant antibacterial activities against different pathogens.