Application of polyether amine intercalated graphene oxide as filler for enhancing hydrophobicity, thermal stability, mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of waterborne polyurethane

Abstract Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) composites containing polyether amine functionalized graphene oxide (PAFG) were successfully fabricated via the in situ polymerization. The hydrophobicity, thermal stability, mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of WPU and WPU composites were investigated. As a result, the properties of WPU composites, such as hydrophobicity, thermal stability, mechanical and anti-corrosion properties were all enhanced when an appropriate concentration of nanoparticles were grafted. The content of PAFG was 0.05 wt.%, the water contact angle and water absorption content were up to 98.5o and 3.01 wt.% of WPU composite compared to that of pure WPU (70.5o and 8.31 wt.%), respectively. In addition, the thermal and mechanical properties of WPU composite were also apparently enhanced. When the content of PAFG was 0.05 wt.%, the decomposition temperature of 10 wt.% weight loss of WPU composite could reach 322 oС, an increase of 29.3 oС compared to that of pure WPU. The tensile strength of WPU with the content of 0.05 wt.% PAFG prominently improved by 130.92% relative to pure WPU. For electrochemical results, the |Z|0.01Hz of WPU was decreased dramatically from 2.95×107 to 1.37×106 Ω·cm2 after 31 days immersion. In contrast, the |Z|0.01Hz of WPU/PAFG0.05 was decreased to 3.98×107 from 5.00×107 Ω·cm2, implying that 0.05 wt.% PAFG significantly enhanced barrier property of WPU coating.