New developments in polyurethane and PU/acrylic dispersions

Waterborne polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) continue to show growth in commercial usage due to the ever increasing environmental legislation to reduce VOC in coating and adhesive materials. The transition from solvent‐based to waterborne has also been facilitated by advances in both the chemistry and technology employed and the formulation expertise required. This has resulted in coating performance that cannot only match but in some cases surpass their solvent‐based counterparts. This paper gives an overview of PUDs and introduces urethane/acrylic hybrids, giving an insight into the chemistry and technology. Particular emphasis is given to new developments and the application areas where they are finding increasing use. Some formulating techniques are also illustrated.