SYNOPSISSix urethane-modified cationic resins were synthesized by reacting half-blocked polyglycoltoluene diisocyanate-urethane (half-blocked-PG-TDI-urethane) and 2-ethylhexanolblocked toluene diisocyanate ( 2-EH-blocked-TDI) modified epoxy resins with methylethanolamine and subsequent neutralization with acetic acid. Three different polyglycols were used to react with toluene diisocyanate to form isocyanate-terminated urethanes ( la-c) and subsequently two different monoalcohols were added to react with la-c to give halfblocked-PG-TDI-urethanes (2a-f ). These cationic resins were then dissolved in suitable solvents and mixed with deionized water to form emulsions. The crosslinking properties, emulsion, and electrodeposition properties of these resins were studied in some detail. The deposition yields of emulsions prepared from urethane-modified epoxy resins were higher than those of other emulsions. The pencil hardness of the crosslinked films of urethanemodified resins were lower than that of non-urethane-modified resin. The emulsion and electrodeposition properties of the cationic resins were also deeply affected by the nature of the pendant positively charged group contained in the resins.
INTRODUCTIONRecently, major emphasis has been placed on converting all automotive paint facilities to cathodic electrocoating systems due to the superior corrosion protection provided, compared to earlier anodic and spray primer systems. The advantages of electrodeposition are high levels of coating utilization, automation, low levels of pollution, and high throwing power, i.e., the ability to coat the recessed portions of complex shaped metal parts.Cathodic electrodeposition resin systems generally consist of e p~x y l -~ or a c r y l i~~~~ polymer backbones with cationic groups being provided by protonated salt groups. It is the cationic or ionizable group and its hydrophilic nature which allows emulsification in water. Curing may be accomplished by crosslinking of hydroxyl and epoxy groups with isocyanate, phenolic, melamine, or similar reactive groups. The preferred resin for electrodeposition is the DGEBA type epoxy resin obtained by reacting epichlorohydrin with bisphenol A in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The deposition yields of the cationic resins directly prepared by DGEBA epoxy resins with secondary amine are low, that is, the deposited films are thin. In this study, isocyanate-terminated urethanes ( la-c) were first prepared from three different polyglycols ( P G ) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) , and subsequently reacted with two different monoalcohols to obtain half-blocked PG-TDI-urethanes (2a-f ). Half-blocked PG-TDIurethanes and 2-ethylhexanol-blocked TDI ( 3 ) prepared from 2-ethylhexanol and TDI were used to modify DGEBA epoxy resin to give urethanemodified epoxy resins (4a-g) , which contain urethane as a side chain. These modified epoxy resins were reacted with methylethanolamine and subsequently neutralized with acetic acid to give urethanemodified cationic resins. The monoalcohol used to prepare h...