Facile preparation of high solid content waterborne polyurethane and its application in leather surface finishing

•WPU dispersions with high solid content are prepared by facile method.•Different particle size distributions cause altered coating surface roughness.•Study of microphase structure and performance of WPU coatings.•Application of WPU dispersions on industrially manufactured leather samples.•Surface finished leather has excellent glossiness, waterproofness and durability.