Polyurethanes (PUR) are materials that show high strength, elasticity, significant elongation, and high chemical resistance among others. These properties are result of a difference in their chemical structure. Considering this properties PUR are used in coal mining industry very often. In this application polyurethanes have not enough thermal stability. One of the methods to increase this factor is using nanofillers. Addition of small quantity particles to polyurethane can change its properties and create new class materials. The most common nanocomposites are composed of polymers and organically modified boehmite.
In this work, the influence of boehmite variable additives on polyurethane nanocomposite properties and structure were investigated.
Components used for PUR synthesis were: poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA) mol.wt 2000, 4,4’diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), glycol (G1), glycerine (G2). Polyurethanes with PEA:MDI:G1:G2 molar ratio 6:9:2:1 were synthesized. As fillers were used: unmodified boehmite and boehmite modified tributhylphosphate. The fillers were added to PUR matrix in 0,5; 1,5; 3,5%wt. For incorporation of boehmite in polyurethane was adopted one-shot, in – situ polymerization process. The curing reaction was performed in the temperature of 120ºC for 16 hours.
In this work mechanical and physical properties of obtained materials were investigated. Mechanical properties were studied using Instron 1115 tensile machine. Abrasive wear were studied using Schoppera-Schlobacha machine. Thermal properties of neat PUR and PUR/boehmite composites were studied using DSC (Q1000 TA Instruments) and TGA (Q 500 TA Instruments). Morphologies of PUR and nanocomposites were examined using atomic force microscope (AFM).
This research was financed by the Polish State Committee for Scientific Research (PBZ-KBN-095/T08/2003)