Aqueous polyurethane dispersions derived from isophorone diisocyanate, various polycarbonatediols of different molecular weights, and dimethylol butyric acid were prepared by a dispersing procedure modified to enhance molecular weight. Particle size, average molecular weight, and tensile properties were determined. The molar ratio of reactants affected the properties of the polyurethane dispersions significantly, with the trends described as the effects of their ionic group and polycarbonatediol soft-segment contents. The molecular weight of the polycarbonatediols also significantly affected the particle size of the aqueous polyurethane dispersions and the film properties. As the molecular weight of the polycarbonatediols decreased, the particle size of the aqueous polyurethane dispersions decreased, and the moduli of the cast films increased, as expected. However, the tensile strength of the cast films decreased as the molecular weight of the polycarbonatediols decreased because of the decrease in elongation at break. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.