Aqueous Dispersions of Polyurethane Ionomers

Studies carried out in the field of aqueous polyurethane dispersions are reviewed. After a brief introduction about polyurethanes and their chemistry, the chemistry of aqueous dispersions are discussed. Manufacturing processes of aqueous polyurethane dispersions such as the acetone process, the prepolymer mixing process, the melt dispersion process, the ketimine and ketazine processes are briefly discussed. The properties of dispersions as well as films derived from dispersions are also discussed. Studies of chemical modifications on polyurethane dispersions through crosslinking, graft and block copolymerization are also reviewed along with applications of aqueous polyurethane dispersions.