In this study, the self-healing properties of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) were implemented by chitosan as a chain extender of polyurethane prepolymers. The physical properties and self-healing efficiency of WPU were studied by changing the molar fractions of chitosan from 0.1 to 0.3. After thermal treatment for 24 h at 110 °C, the self-healing efficiency for the tensile strength of the highest chitosan content (WPU-C3) was found to be 47%. The surface scratch was also completely restored. The efficiency of the sample with the lowest chitosan content (WPU-C1) was found to be 35%, while that of the control sample without chitosan (WPU-C0) was 4%. The self-healing properties of the as-prepared films were attributed to the exchange reactions between the hydroxyl groups of chitosan and the urethane groups in the films at elevated temperature. It is inferred that self-healing WPU can be synthesized by chain extension with chitosan.
Keywords: chitosan; exchange reactions; self-healing; waterborne polyurethane.