Optimizing Bio-Based Polyurethane Coatings for Enhanced Mechanical Strength and Hydrophobicity through Glycerol and HMDS Modification
Category
Sciences and Technology
Department
Material Science
Student Status
Graduate
Research Advisor
Dr. Ram Gupta
Document Type
Event
Location
Student Center Ballroom
Start Date
10-4-2025 2:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2025 4:00 PM
Description
This study focuses on the development of durable, eco-friendly bio-based polyurethane (PU) coatings as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based products. The research aims to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high performance in coating applications. Bio-based PU coatings were synthesized using soybean oil polyol (SOP), glycerol (GLY) as a crosslinker, and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The study was conducted in two phases: first, optimizing the glycerol content to enhance mechanical properties, and second, incorporating hexamethyldisilane (HMDS) to improve hydrophobicity and chemical resistance. In the first phase, PU coatings were prepared with varying weight percentages (wt.%) of glycerol (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20), and mechanical testing revealed that 10 wt.% GLY provided the best mechanical strength. In the second phase, the optimized formulation was further modified by adding HMDS in different wt.% (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50). The results indicated that 10 wt.% HMDS offered the best tensile strength, but higher concentrations of HMDS negatively affected crosslinking and homogeneity, leading to reduced mechanical performance. FT-IR analysis confirmed the formation of urethane bonds, while DSC and TGA analyses demonstrated the thermal stability of the coatings. Additionally, gel content and degree of swelling tests were conducted to evaluate the crosslinking density. The findings suggest that bio-based PU coatings with optimized glycerol and HMDS content can serve as effective, sustainable alternatives for industrial coating applications, offering a balance of mechanical strength, chemical resistance and environmental benefits.
Optimizing Bio-Based Polyurethane Coatings for Enhanced Mechanical Strength and Hydrophobicity through Glycerol and HMDS Modification
Student Center Ballroom
This study focuses on the development of durable, eco-friendly bio-based polyurethane (PU) coatings as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based products. The research aims to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high performance in coating applications. Bio-based PU coatings were synthesized using soybean oil polyol (SOP), glycerol (GLY) as a crosslinker, and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The study was conducted in two phases: first, optimizing the glycerol content to enhance mechanical properties, and second, incorporating hexamethyldisilane (HMDS) to improve hydrophobicity and chemical resistance. In the first phase, PU coatings were prepared with varying weight percentages (wt.%) of glycerol (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20), and mechanical testing revealed that 10 wt.% GLY provided the best mechanical strength. In the second phase, the optimized formulation was further modified by adding HMDS in different wt.% (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50). The results indicated that 10 wt.% HMDS offered the best tensile strength, but higher concentrations of HMDS negatively affected crosslinking and homogeneity, leading to reduced mechanical performance. FT-IR analysis confirmed the formation of urethane bonds, while DSC and TGA analyses demonstrated the thermal stability of the coatings. Additionally, gel content and degree of swelling tests were conducted to evaluate the crosslinking density. The findings suggest that bio-based PU coatings with optimized glycerol and HMDS content can serve as effective, sustainable alternatives for industrial coating applications, offering a balance of mechanical strength, chemical resistance and environmental benefits.
