Breathable polyurethanes, blends, and articles

An article comprising a polyurethane having an upright moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of more than about 500 gms/m2/24 hr and comprising:

• (a) poly(alkylene oxide) side-chain units in an amount comprising about 29.9 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of said polyurethane, wherein (i) alkylene oxide groups in said poly(alkylene oxide) side-chain units have from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and are unsubstituted, substituted, or both unsubstituted and substituted, (ii) at least about 50 wt. % of said alkylene oxide groups are ethylene oxide, and (iii) said amount of said side-chain units is at least about 30 wt. % when the molecular weight of said side-chain units is less than about 600 grams/mole, and
• (b) poly(ethylene oxide) main-chain units in an amount comprising less than about 25 wt. % of said polyurethane.

A personal care composition comprising a topically acceptable phase, together with a polyurethane having an upright moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of more than about 500 gms/m2/24 hr and comprising:

• (a) poly(alkylene oxide) side-chain units in an amount comprising about 12 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of said polyurethane, wherein (i) alkylene oxide groups in said poly(alkylene oxide) side-chain units have from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and are unsubstituted, substituted, or both unsubstituted and substituted, (ii) at least about 50 wt. % of said alkylene oxide groups are ethylene oxide, and (iii) said amount of said side-chain units is at least about 30 wt. % when the molecular weight of said side-chain units is less than about 600 grams/mole, at least about 15 wt. % when the molecular weight of said side-chain units is from about 600 to about 1,000 grams/mole, and at least about 12 wt. % when the molecular weight of said side-chain units is more than about 1,000 grams/mole, and
• (b) poly(ethylene oxide) main-chain units in an amount comprising less than about 25 wt. % of said polyurethane.

A polyurethane composition having an upright moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of more than about 500 gm/m2/24 hr and comprising:

• (a) poly(alkylene oxide) side-chain units in an amount comprising about 12 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of said polyurethane, wherein (i) alkylene oxide groups in said poly(alkylene oxide) side-chain units have from 2 to 10 carbon atoms are unsubstituted, substituted, or both unsubstituted and substituted, (ii) at least about 50 wt. % of said alkylene oxide groups are ethylene oxide, (b) poly(ethylene oxide) main-chain units in an amount comprising less than about 25 wt. % of said polyurethane, and (c) at least one crosslinkable functional group derived from a compound of the formula (HO)xQ(COOH)y wherein Q is a straight or branched hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 12 atoms, and x and y are 1 to 3 .