Influence of quartz and marble on the performance of particulate-filled rigid polyurethane foams

Abstract

This work was carried out to investigate the roles of quartz and marble on the performance of polyurethane particulate-filled composites. Prior to the mixing, the quartz and marble were pulverized and sieved to obtain an average particle size of less than 90 µm. Polyurethane (PU) was produced from isocyanate and polyol by a two-step method in which marble and quartz particles were incorporated in predetermined proportions. Three different weight ratios were utilized to investigate the physical, chemical, and mechanical behavior of the pristine rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) and the marble and quartz-filled RPUF using analytical equipment such as FTIR, XRF, and SEM. The mechanical properties were performed according to the ASTM standards, where the compressive and flexural strengths were investigated using the universal testing machine. Overall, the RPUF shows the hydroxyl bands, while the principal elements of fillers are Calcium and Silicon. It was discovered from the results that adding these fillers improved the mechanical properties of the filled samples, where the compressive strength was enhanced.