Low photo- and water-resistance is often cited as the problem of MDI-based WBPU. This study addressed this problem. Water-borne poly(urethane-urea)s (WBPUs) were synthesized using a pre-polymer mixing process from 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate)(MDI)/4,4-dicyclohexylmethyl diisocyanate (H(12)MDI) (15/85 mole %)/dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA)/ethylene diamine (EDA)/triethylamine (TEA) with different poly(propylene glycol) (PPG, M(n) = 2000)/hydroxyl terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS, M(n) = similar to 550) molar ratios. This study highlights the effect of PDMS content on the inherent viscosity, hydrogen-bonding, storage modulus, tan delta peak intensity, tensile modulus/strength, elongation (%) at break, water swelling (%), contact angle, and the yellowness index of WBPUs containing MDI. The mechanical properties (strength/modulus), water-resistance and photo-resistance of WBPUs containing MDI increased significantly in proportion to the PDMS content. These results indicate the potential for using multi-performance WBPU with PDPS for WBPU coatings. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2011