Effects of the Acrylic Polyol Structure and the Selectivity of the Employed Catalyst on the Performance of Two-component Aqueous Polyurethane Coatings

Abstract: Two kinds of aqueous acrylic polyols (single step and multi step synthesis type)have been investigated for their performance in the two-component aqueous polyurethaneapplication, by using more selective catalysts. The aliphatic polyfunctional isocyanatesbased on hexamethylen diisocyanates have been employed as suitable hardeners. Thecomplex of zirconium, commercially known as K-KAT^®XC-6212, and manganese (III)complexes with mixed ligands based on the derivative of maleic acid have been used ascatalysts in this study. Both of the aqueous polyols give good results, in terms of applicationand hardness, when elevated temperatures and more selective catalysts are applied. A moreselective catalyst promotes the reaction between the isocyanate and polyol component. Thisincreases the percentage of urethane bonds and the degree of hardness in the films formedfrom the two components of aqueous polyurethane lacquers. The polyol based on the singlestep synthesis route is favourable concerning potlife and hardness. The obtained resultsshow that the performance of the two-component aqueous polyurethane coatings depends onthe polymer structure of the polyols as well as on the selectivity of the employed catalyst.