Graphene oxide modified waterborne polyurethane-based dye with high color-fastness performance

Graphene oxide (GO) was incorporated into waterborne polyurethane-based polymeric dyes to prepare GO modified polymeric dyes for further improving the performances of waterborne polyurethane-based dyes. Structure properties of the prepared polymeric dyes were analyzed using FTIR and UV-Vis spectrophotometers. The fastnesses to dry-wet rubbing, thermal migration, light, and the mechanical properties of the GO modified polymeric dye films were further investigated. The introduction of GO might lower the tensile strength and the elongation at break of polymeric dye films. Meanwhile, the color of modified polymeric dye films turned to be darker as the GO dosage increased. Moreover, most of the above-mentioned properties could be enhanced considerably. In particular, the dry-wet rubbing and thermal migration fastness of modified polymeric dye films could be enhanced up to grade 5. This suggests that the GO modified waterborne polyurethane-based dye has the potential to be used in leather finishing coloring with high performance.