Synthesis and properties of waterborne polyurethane modified by short-chain fluorinated acrylate

Polyurethane-fluorinated acrylate emulsion(FPUA) was prepared through modification of water borne polyurethane with short-chain fluorinated acrylate by monomer pre-emulsion method. The structure of the emulsion was characterized by IR. The film surface morphology and composition was analyzed using AFM and SEM-EDX. The influences of amount of fluorine-containing monomer on mechanical properties, thermal properties, surface free energy and water resistance were investigated. The results showed that fluorine gradu ally migrated to the surface during the film-forming process. The fluorine atom content of the surface in creased with the increase in the amount of fluorine-containing monomer. The mechanical and thermal proper ties of the film increased, and the surface free energy of film decreased from 45.7 mJ/m2to 20.2 mJ/m2. The cotton fabric after FPUA emulsion finished had the imitation lotus leaf effect with water contact angle of136.8° and super hydrophobic property.