a water - based sulfonated polyurethane composition and footwear manufactured using the composition as as an adhesive , coating and primer . the sulfonated polyurethane is a reaction product of a ) at least one polyisocyanate ; b ) at least one alkylene diol ; c ) at least one sulfonated polyester polyol wherein the sulfo groups thereof are present as alkali metal salts ; and d ) at least one dihydroxy carboxylic acid , or salt thereof . the composition may also be modified to include a dispersed polymer or copolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer . such mofified compositions may be obtained by preparing the sulfonated polyurethane in the presence of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and subsequently subjecting the mixture to free - radical polymerization conditions .