Solvent free UV curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate coatings with enhanced hydrophobicity induced by a semi interpenetrating polymer network

Abstract This study presents the synthesis and characterization of solvent-free, UV-curable waterborne polyurethane-acrylate (WPUA) coatings using a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN) technique, aiming to develop durable, high-performance eco-friendly coatings. The WPUA formulations consis...

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Main Author: Ali Reza Banan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04739-1
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author Ali Reza Banan
author_facet Ali Reza Banan
author_sort Ali Reza Banan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study presents the synthesis and characterization of solvent-free, UV-curable waterborne polyurethane-acrylate (WPUA) coatings using a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN) technique, aiming to develop durable, high-performance eco-friendly coatings. The WPUA formulations consisted of a urethane backbone created from polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), combined with urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) to introduce acrylate functionality. The synthesized coatings were thoroughly analyzed to assess their morphology, thermal stability, spectroscopic characteristics, water absorption, adhesion strength, and mechanical properties. The design of experiments (DoE) approach was applied to optimize film characteristics, particularly tensile strength. Mechanical testing revealed that incorporating UDMA into the WPUA matrix significantly improved tensile strength, increasing from 4.1 MPa to 8.8 MPa in the optimized formulation. The increase in the cross-cut adhesion test rating from 3B to 5B demonstrates that UV curing significantly enhanced adhesion. Furthermore, the addition of UDMA increased hydrophobicity, reducing water absorption and raising the water contact angle from 67° to 83°.These results indicate that the UV-cured WPUA films possess superior mechanical properties, thermal stability, and water resistance, making them viable options for sustainable coating applications.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-beebe4f3392247b190c233ad4b51ff602025-08-20T04:01:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-04739-1Solvent free UV curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate coatings with enhanced hydrophobicity induced by a semi interpenetrating polymer networkAli Reza Banan0Department of Organic Chemistry, Imam Hossein UniversityAbstract This study presents the synthesis and characterization of solvent-free, UV-curable waterborne polyurethane-acrylate (WPUA) coatings using a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN) technique, aiming to develop durable, high-performance eco-friendly coatings. The WPUA formulations consisted of a urethane backbone created from polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), combined with urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) to introduce acrylate functionality. The synthesized coatings were thoroughly analyzed to assess their morphology, thermal stability, spectroscopic characteristics, water absorption, adhesion strength, and mechanical properties. The design of experiments (DoE) approach was applied to optimize film characteristics, particularly tensile strength. Mechanical testing revealed that incorporating UDMA into the WPUA matrix significantly improved tensile strength, increasing from 4.1 MPa to 8.8 MPa in the optimized formulation. The increase in the cross-cut adhesion test rating from 3B to 5B demonstrates that UV curing significantly enhanced adhesion. Furthermore, the addition of UDMA increased hydrophobicity, reducing water absorption and raising the water contact angle from 67° to 83°.These results indicate that the UV-cured WPUA films possess superior mechanical properties, thermal stability, and water resistance, making them viable options for sustainable coating applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04739-1Waterborne polyurethane-acrylateSemi interpenetrating polymer networkUrethane dimethacrylateDesign of experimentsUV-curingPolytetrahydrofuran
spellingShingle Ali Reza Banan
Solvent free UV curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate coatings with enhanced hydrophobicity induced by a semi interpenetrating polymer network
Scientific Reports
Waterborne polyurethane-acrylate
Semi interpenetrating polymer network
Urethane dimethacrylate
Design of experiments
UV-curing
Polytetrahydrofuran
title Solvent free UV curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate coatings with enhanced hydrophobicity induced by a semi interpenetrating polymer network
title_full Solvent free UV curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate coatings with enhanced hydrophobicity induced by a semi interpenetrating polymer network
title_fullStr Solvent free UV curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate coatings with enhanced hydrophobicity induced by a semi interpenetrating polymer network
title_full_unstemmed Solvent free UV curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate coatings with enhanced hydrophobicity induced by a semi interpenetrating polymer network
title_short Solvent free UV curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate coatings with enhanced hydrophobicity induced by a semi interpenetrating polymer network
title_sort solvent free uv curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate coatings with enhanced hydrophobicity induced by a semi interpenetrating polymer network
topic Waterborne polyurethane-acrylate
Semi interpenetrating polymer network
Urethane dimethacrylate
Design of experiments
UV-curing
Polytetrahydrofuran
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04739-1
work_keys_str_mv AT alirezabanan solventfreeuvcurablewaterbornepolyurethaneacrylatecoatingswithenhancedhydrophobicityinducedbyasemiinterpenetratingpolymernetwork