Design, synthesis, and characterizatıon of waterborne polyurethane dispersıons for self-healing, anti-fouling, and uv-curable coatings and films

Polyurethanes are one of the most important and versatile types of polymers, appearing in different forms and applications in every aspect of our lives, from insulation to biomedical applications. Examples of these products include polyurethane foams and coatings, as well as thermoplastic polyurethanes, flexible polyurethanes, rigid polyurethanes, polyurethane ionomers, and waterborne polyurethanes. These products, which have had a significant market share in the industry since the 1940s, are produced through various methods. However, the majority of traditional methods involve chemicals that pose risks to the environment and human health, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs).For this reason, the development of environmentally and human-friendly polyurethane materials has become inevitable. These new generation polyurethane structures must meet all necessary performance criteria and replace traditional products in the market. The new products to be developed should be designed with a more sustainable approach, containing lower volatile organic compounds, consuming less energy, producing less waste, and having a longer material lifespan. With this mission, unique water-based polyurethane dispersions tailored for different applications have been synthesized using the acetone method and characterized. In the studies included in this thesis, systematic syntheses aimed at self-healing, anti-fouling, and UV-curing applications were conducted on structures containing different isocyanates, polyols, ionic groups, and branching amounts, and the structure-property relationships were clarified alongside various sensitive parameters such as the effects of branching degree and curing energy in highly branched water-based polyurethanes. Solid content and particle size measurements (DLS) of the water-borne polyurethane dispersions, as well as mechanical (UTM), thermal (TGA, DSC), and surface properties (VLM, SEM) of the obtained elastomeric films, were reported.