The current work investigates the effect of the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and graphene oxide (GO) to high hard-segment polyurethane (75% HS) on its thermal, morphological, and mechanical properties. Polyurethane (PU) and its nanocomposites were prepared with different ratios of GNP and GO (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 wt. %). A thermal stability analysis demonstrated an enhancement in the thermal stability of PU with GNP and GO incorporated compared to pure PU. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed that both GNP and GO act as heterogeneous nucleation agents within a PU matrix, leading to an increase in the crystallinity of PU. The uniform dispersion and distribution of GNP and GO flakes in the PU matrix were confirmed by SEM and TEM. In terms of the mechanical properties of the PU nanocomposites, it was found that the interaction between PU and GO was better than that of GNP due to the functional groups on the GO’s surface. This leads to a significant increase in tensile strength for 0.5 wt. % GNP and GO compared with pure PU. This can be attributed to interfacial interaction between the GO and PU chains, resulting in an improvement in stress transferring from the matrix to the filler and vice versa. This work sheds light on the understanding of the interactions between graphene-based fillers and their influence on the mechanical properties of PU nanocomposites.
The remarkable structural features of organic modified montmorillonite particles (OMMT) enable them to complete their important role in enhancing different properties of polyurethane copolymer with 75 wt.% hard segments (PUC/75). Based on the melt intercalation approach, various amounts of OMMT were incorporated into PUC/75 solution followed by the injection moulding process. It is essential to mention that the synthesized PUC/75 in this work relied on using 1,5-Pentanediol as a chain extender in order to produce a long-term and thermal-stable PUC successfully. The effect of incorporating various loading of OMMT on rheological properties of neat PUC/75 and its nanocomposites was investigated. The structure of PUC/OMMT was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms were utilized to investigate OMMT effect on the thermal transitions and crystallinity of resultant PUC nanocomposites. Interestingly, the dynamic rheological analysis exhibited a remarkable increase in melt rheology behaviour with increasing OMMT loading compared to neat PUC/75. This could imply a good interaction between the functional group on the surface of OMMT and PUC/75 domains; particularly hard domains, herein the DSC results showed moderate improvement in melt temperature (Tm) of PUC/OMMT nanocomposite. However, a decline in crystalline temperature (Tc) was also seen due to aggregation of OMMT, especially at higher OMMT loading. While XRD results exhibited a slight shifting in crystalline peaks of PUC nanocomposites relative to neat PUC/75.
Purpose: This work aims to study the effect of hard segments (HS) content on the thermal, morphological and mechanical properties of polyurethane polymers based on 1.5 pentanediol chain extenders. Design/methodology/approach: Two comparable series of polyurethanes were synthesised including homo-polyurethane (Homo-PU) and copolyurethane (Co-PU). The Homo-PU consists of 100% wt. of hard segments (HS). The Co-PU composes of 30%wt. of soft segments (SS) using a poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-blockpoly( ethylene glycol) material. The effect of hard segments content on the morphology of Homo-PU and Co-PU was also studied. Findings: The Homo-PU and Co-PU materials show three distinct degradation steps with the higher thermal stability of the Co-PU compared to the Homo-PU. Enthalpy of fusion (ΔHM) and heat capacity (ΔCP) of polyurethane (PU) samples decrease with decreasing HS content. In the cooling cycle, the higher exothermic peak of crystallization is observed in the Co-PU. In contrast, the cold crystalline peak is observed in the 2nd heating cycle of the Homo-PU. Melting temperature (TM) increases with increasing SS content. Glass transition temperature (Tg) of PU samples shifts to higher temperature with increasing HS content. Storage modulus (E’) of the Co-PU is higher than E’ of the Homo-PU. All N-H groups in PU samples are hydrogen-bonded, whilst most of the C=O groups are hydrogen-bonded. The degree of hydrogen bonding in PU samples decreases with decreasing HS content. The Homo-PU shows better hardness than the Co-PU and higher brittleness at low temperature. WAXS results of the Homo-PU display better crystallinity compared to the Co-PU. Research limitations/implications: The main challenge in this work was how to synthesis Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) with specific properties to compete other common polymer such as Polyamides (PA) and Polypropylene (PP).Practical implications: Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) can be used in various application such as backageing, foot,automobiles and constructions. Originality/value: A new type of TPUs that synthesized using different type of chain extender (1.5 pentanediol). Two different types of TPUs were synthesized one contained 30% SS and 70% HS and a second one contained 100% HS.
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