Use of water-based carbonyl-functional polymers on a cross-linker-free highperformance leather finish
The present paper aims to study a new high-performance coating formulation while avoiding the use of cross-linkers. 
By using acrylic polymers with carbonyl functional groups, the negative environmental effects of the finishing process can be minimized. These new polymers can give very good physical properties without losing the inherent properties 
of flexibility and elasticity needed in upholstery leather
Aqueous finishing with polyisocyanate cross-linked binders
Due to increasingly stringent environmental legislation the leather industry has to produce eco-friendly articles. At the same time, it needs to manufacture fashionable and high-quality articles in order to increase competitiveness. As part of this, factories have to replace solvent-based products by water-based products in their finishing formualtions to reduce the level of volatile organic compounds. The addition of a cross-linker is required in most cases in order to obtain high performance aqueous finishes. The aim of the present work is to explore the cross-linking reaction between polyisocyanate and both acrylic binders and polyurethanes. A comparison of results shows that polyisocyanate presents a very fast reticulation [cross-linking] speed at room temperature and has a pot-life of only 4 hours. In order to obtain optimum fastness values, different amounts of polyisocyanate are required, the amounts depend on the type of leather used and on the physical characteristics of the binders employed.
Effects of additives on the performance of two-component waterborne polyurethane coatings
The effects of various additives and solvents on a coating’s performance in a two-component waterborne polyurethane coating system are studied using a statistical experimental design method. Using a blocked arrangement of fractional factorial design matrices, six different independent variables, including the use of different additives, catalysts, as well as solvents at different levels, were examined for their effects on various coating performance parameters, such as gloss, hardness, viscosity, and chemical resistance.Statistical analysis revealed several significant effects of these additives on the coating performances. Most importantly, several two-factor interactions between additives were also found to significantly influence the performance properties of the coating. These interactions could be very difficult to detect using traditional one-at-a-time experimental approaches. The information obtained from this study could be used for designing coating systems with superior performance properties.