Volatile Organic Compound-Free Synthesis of Waterborne Poly(hydroxy urethane)–(Meth)acrylic Hybrids by Miniemulsion Polymerization

A volatile organic compound (VOC)-free method for the synthesis of poly(hydroxyurethane)–(meth)acrylic waterborne hybrid dispersions was developed. Poly(hydroxyurethane) (PHU) synthesized by bulk aminolysis of cyclic-carbonate derivatives using biosourced vegetable oil-based diamines was dissolved in (meth)acrylate monomers; the solution was dispersed in water and polymerized in a miniemulsion. Hybrid particles exhibiting core–shell morphology with the PHU in the shell were obtained. The performance of the coating cast from these dispersions was studied, finding that by simply varying the PHU content and the casting conditions, widely different mechanical properties of PHU–(meth)acrylic hybrids could be obtained. The versatility of the synthetic method that is not limited to the type of (meth)acrylic monomers opens the way for obtaining a broad range of environmentally friendly VOC- and isocyanate-free waterborne urethane–acrylic coatings and adhesives.