The Role of Waterborne Polyurethane in the Textile Industry

The Role of Waterborne Polyurethane in the Textile Industry

2025-12-25 17:33:35
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Definition: Waterborne polyurethane is a new type of polyurethane system that uses water instead of organic solvents as a dispersion medium. It is also known as water-dispersible polyurethane, water-based polyurethane, or aqueous polyurethane.

Characteristics

Classification 1

By particle size and appearance

1. Polyurethane aqueous solution (transparent appearance, particle size <0.001 micrometers);

2. Polyurethane aqueous dispersion (translucent appearance, particle size: 0.001-0.1 micrometers);

3. Polyurethane emulsion (cloudy white appearance, particle size >0.1 micrometers);

Classification 2

By the charge nature of hydrophilic groups

1. Anionic waterborne polyurethane (the most important, divided into carboxylic acid type and sulfonic acid type);

2. Cationic waterborne polyurethane;

3. Non-ionic waterborne polyurethane;

Classification 3

By product packaging form

1. Single-component waterborne polyurethane;

2. Two-component waterborne polyurethane;

Applications of Waterborne Polyurethane in Textile Auxiliaries

01 Used as a wrinkle-resistant, anti-shrinkage finishing agent for natural fibers:

In the production of textiles such as cotton and silk, commonly used natural fibers share a common characteristic: they swell when wet and shrink when dry. After these two processes, the relative positions of the natural fibers undergo significant changes, resulting in wrinkling. To avoid this phenomenon and ensure the fibers remain in place, wrinkle-resistant finishing agents are usually used. Previously, the widely used wrinkle-resistant finishing agent was dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea resin (DMDHEV), also known as 2D resin. Although it achieved good results, it produced a large amount of formaldehyde during processing, which not only harmed the health of operators and polluted the environment but also left a certain amount of free formaldehyde residue on the fabric, posing a health risk to consumers. In this context, the textile industry needed to find a new alternative. The chemical bonds formed between the polymer film contained in waterborne polyurethane finishing agents and the fibers make the wool fibers flatter, achieving anti-shrinkage and anti-wrinkle effects.

02 Used in Fabric Coating Agents:

Polyurethane-coated fabrics can be used to produce fabrics with waterproof and down-proof functions, and are resistant to water, cold, and abrasion. Furthermore, they possess excellent elasticity and a good feel. Currently, polyurethane coating agents used in textile production are mainly divided into two categories: solvent-based and water-based. The solvents used in the former mainly include toluene and DMF, exhibiting significant toxicity and flammability. In contrast, water-based polyurethane does not pollute the environment and forms a good film. When applied to the fabric surface, it forms a durable film that provides waterproofing. In addition, water vapor can diffuse through the amorphous regions of the polyurethane to the surface, giving the coated fabric good waterproof and breathable properties.

03 Used as Textile Fixing Agents:
For a long time, the printing and dyeing and garment industries have faced a technical challenge: the dry and wet rubbing fastness of fabrics dyed with anionic dyes such as reactive dyes and direct dyes has not met expectations. Using water-based polyurethane as a fixing agent, after modification, can give the fabric good breathability and abrasion resistance. For example, using organotin as a catalyst, a polyurethane prepolymer is generated from diisocyanate and polyester polyol. This is then mixed with the end-capping agent N-methyldiethanolamine (N-MDEA) or methyl ethyl ketone oxime. Under a pH of 4-6, neutralization with glacial acetic acid yields a quaternary ammonium salt-type cationic water-based polyurethane, which can be used as a fixing agent in textile production. During the production process, as the baking temperature increases, the blocked -NCO in the water-based polyurethane is continuously released, reacting with the active hydrogen-containing groups on the fabric and dyes, forming a protective film on the fiber surface of the fabric and strengthening the adhesion of the dye to the fabric.

Therefore, water-based polyurethane possesses superior properties that traditional solvent-based polyurethanes lack. Applying it to textile auxiliaries can promote the improvement of quality and efficiency in textile production, thus promoting the further development of the textile industry.

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