To obtain binder materials, emulsions of emulsifier-/solvent-free waterborne polyurethane-acrylic hybrids with a fixed acrylic monomer content (30 wt %) were prepared in this study. This study focused on the effect of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)/ acrylonitrile (AN) wt % on the shelf stability, mean particle size and viscosity of hybrid emulsion samples, water swelling %/dynamic mechanical thermal properties/mechanical properties of hybrid film samples, and the failure mode and adhesive strength of binder materials prepared in this study. Characterization of the chemical structures of prepolymers, hybrid materials (binder materials), and atmospheric pressure plasma-treated polyethylene (PE) has been performed by means of Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy to determine the presence/disappearance/peak intensity change of functional groups. Various properties such as mean particle size, viscosity, T g , water swelling %, hardness and mechanical properties, and failure mode and adhesive strength for leather/leather, control PE/leather, and plasma-treated PE/leather were found to be significantly dependent on the weight ratio of GMA/AN. V C 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44497.
INTRODUCTIONSolvent-based resins are gradually being changed with waterbased ones, because the evaporation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in solvent-based resins causes a variety of health, safety, and air contamination problems. Generally, paints/inks contain a binder or polymer that acts as the adhesive component for bonding to the surface of substrates. The basic function of binders is to cure or convert from a liquid state to a solid state after application by oxidation, heat, chemical reaction, or by the evaporation of solvent. A dispersion binder is a solubilized binder dispersed in a non-solvent such as water or organic solvent. The compositions of water-based paint/ink are similar to solvent-based paint/ink, which contain pigment, binder, and other additives. The binder composed of alkali-soluble polymer resin, latex, water, and other accessory solvent plays a connective role in water-based paint/ink. The binder affects the performances of paint/ink such as adhesion, viscosity, gloss, and drying properties.Waterborne polyacrylate (WPA) and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) resins have been used widely in coating, binder for paints and inks, 1-3 adhesive, and many other applications because of environmental considerations. 4-14 WPA exhibits good performances in terms of hardness, weather ability, chemical resistance, cost, gloss, and affinity to pigments, but they show poor properties such as toughness, mar-resistance, elongation, elasticity, softness, abrasion, and adhesion. However, WPUs exhibit excellent properties in terms of adhesion, elasticity, flexibility, and abrasion, but they have the shortcomings of a high cost, low pH stability, and limited outdoor durability. As a result, formulators have sought ways of combining the advantages of WPU and WPA. [15][16][17][18][19] It is of great interes...