Postformable and Self-Healing Finish Foil Based on Polyurethane-Impregnated Paper

Abstract

Polyurethane moisture-curable resins obtained from isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) with different molecular weights (400, 1000, and 2000 g/mol) were used for impregnating decor paper. In addition to providing the same level of physicomechanical surface performance and visual appearance as the traditional melamine-formaldehyde impregnated paper, these finish foils are postformable and self-healing. The influence of the NCO/OH molar ratio and polyol molecular weight on the physical properties of the resultant polymers and composite foils was investigated in detail, namely using dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile-strain testing, and contact angle measurements. The most promising polyurethane-impregnated papers were additionally tested according to European Standard EN 438-2.