Self‐Matting Waterborne Polyurethane for PVC Artificial Leather Finishing

ABSTRACT The development of low‐gloss waterborne polyurethane coatings for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) artificial leather finishing without external matting agents remains challenging. In this work, self‐matting waterborne polyurethane (SMWPU) dispersions were synthesized by the prepolymer method using Polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMG‐2000), Isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), Dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA), and Trimethylolpropane (TMP). The effects of the isocyanate index ( R value), DMPA content, and TMP content on particle size, Zeta potential, dispersion stability, thermal stability, surface morphology, and gloss were systematically investigated. Increasing the R value increased particle size and surface roughness, reducing gloss from 3.18 to 2.67. Increasing DMPA content enhanced surface charge density and dispersion stability, with the lowest gloss of 2.65 at 1.8 wt% DMPA. Increasing TMP content increased crosslinking density and particle size, with the lowest gloss of 2.66 at 1.2 wt% TMP, while improving thermal stability. SEM analysis showed that particle size and distribution strongly affected surface morphology, and a uniformly rough surface was essential for effective self‐matting. These findings provide practical guidance for developing low‐gloss SMWPU coatings for PVC artificial leather finishing.