• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.366-372
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• 2013

Flexible polyurethane/clay porous nanocomposite foams were synthesized using natural and organically modified montmorillonite clays such as bentonite, closite 10A and closite 30B. The content of nanoclays was varied from 1 to 5 wt% of polyol. Dispersion of clay in Polyurethane(PU) matrix was investigated by X-ray diffraction(Cu-$K{\alpha}$ rays of wavelength $1.54{\AA}$) using an X-ray diffractometer. Also, we determined that the thermal resistance of PU foam increased with added clay, compared to that of pure PU foam. The cell size and the fraction of open cells of the precursor foam were controlled by the addition of clay to the polyurethane foam. Modified clays were found to be more efficient cell openers than the unmodified clay. In addition, the tensile strength and elongation of the polyurethane/clay porous nanocomposites were examined. Increasing clay content increased the mechanical properties of the composites, such as tensile strength, and elongation at break. However, increasing the content over 5 wt% deteriorated the properties of the composites. We found that the nanofillers(bentonite, closite 10A and closite 30B) improved the thermal stability of the nanocomposite foam. The nanocomposite foam containing 3 wt% of closite 30B exhibited the best tensile strength and thermal stability.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2011

We prepared polyurethane foam/cloisite30B/phosphates composites and characterized their rise time, density, cell morphology, and thermal properties. The composites were synthesized with polyadipatediol-cloisite30B composite (f=2.0), polyether-polyol (f=4.6), polymeric 4,4-diphenyl methane diisocyanate (f=2.5), and D-580 (phenyl polyoxyalkenyl phosphate). As a blowing agent, cyclopentane and distilled water were used at various concentrations of D-580 from 0 to 2.81 wt%. The rise times of PUF/Closite30B/Phosphate composites blown with distilled water were faster than those blown with cyclopentane by 30%. The composites blown with cyclopentane had spherical-shape cells and the cell diameter was decreased with increasing D-580 wt%. While $T_g$ of the composites blown with cyclopentane linearly decreased with increasing the D-580 content, the $T_g$ of the composites blown with distilled water increased with the D-580 content. All PUF/Closite30B/Phosphate composites began to decompose from $250^{\circ}C$. The composites blown with cyclopentane showed the second thermal decomposition at temperatures higher than $500^{\circ}C$. The thermal stability of all composites increased with the D-580 content. The effect of D-580 on the thermal stability of the composites was measured higher at the composites blown with distilled water.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2017

In this study, Poly-urethane acrylate (PUA) was synthesized by the reaction between Polycaprolactonetriol (PCLT) and Isophorone dissocyanate (IPDI) and hybridized with inorganic materials. Tetraethylortho silicate (TEOS) and nano clay (Closite 20A) were used as inorganic particles. For the hybridization of TEOS with PUA, sol-gel method is used, in which TEOS is made into spherical particle in the firsthand. In the case of Nano clay, hybridization is carried out through the dispersion as Nano clay has a layered structure. The solution of PUA hybrid was made into a film after UV curing and its thermo and electrical properties were measured. The experimental analysis and result demonstrate that the PUA hybrid shows an improved thermal properties and lower dielectric constant than that of the non-hybrid PUA. The trend of improved properties was different depending on structure of inorganic materials.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2006

In the present work, low density polyethylene (LDPE)/aliphatic polyester (APES)/organoclay ternary nanocomposites were prepared. In particular, the effect of a compatibilizer, polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MAH), on the morphology and properties of the ternary nanocomposites was investigated. LDPE/APES/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared through melt intercalation method using two different kinds of organoclay. The dispersibility of silicate clays in the nanocomposites was investigated by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The ternary nanocomposites showed higher tensile properties than the LDPE/APES blend did. The dispersibility and properties of nanocomposites containing Cloisite 30B were better than those of the nanocomposites containing Cloisite 20A. Unlike Cloisite 20A, hydroxyl groups in the intercalants in Cloisite 30B interlayer underwent a certain polar interaction with the carboxyl group of APES, favoring the intercalation of APES chains and the formation of LDPE/APES/Closite 30B nanocomposites. However, the introduction of the polar hydroxyl groups also enhanced the interaction with the silicate surface at the same time, thereby rendering somewhat difficult the replacement of the surface contacts by LDPE chains, and impeding the extensive intercalation and further exfoliation of Cloisite 30B in the LDPE/APES matrix. The compatibilizer enhanced the intercalation of the polymer chain inside the clay gallery and thus improved the mechanical properties of the ternary nanocomposites. Rheological measurements of the nanocomposites via frequency sweep experiment indicated a certain interaction between the clay platelet and the polymer molecules in the melted state.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.945-948
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• 2008

Nanocomposite materials provides efficient reinforcement, thermal endurance, and many other advantages depending on the additives used, with applications in the aerospace, automotive, and biomedical industries. Here, epoxy based nanocomposites were synthesized in the presence of Cloisite 15A and characterized with TEM, XRD, TGA, and DMA. To determine the effect of the clay d-spacing, Cloisite 20A was also used to synthesize the nanocompostes. In addition to the traditional hot plate method, an ultrasonicator was used to investigate the effect of different types of mixing on the properties of the nanocomposite; no significant effect was found. An examination of the nanocomposite morphology revealed that all the nanocomposites synthesized yielded an intercalated structure. When 5 wt% of Cloisite 15A was used with 20 min sonication time, the storage modulus increased 10% over the neat(no clay) nanocomposite. In general, the presence of Cloisite 15A produced a better storage modulus than Cloisite 20A.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.156-162
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• 2012

Polyurethane (PU)/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by mixing UV curable urethane acrylate oligomer with organoclay, and a subsequent curing by UV irradiation. As organoclays, commercially available Cloisite 20A (C20A) and acrylsilane modified C20A were used. XRD and TEM analyses revealed that the UV cured PU/clay nanocomposites formed intercalated nanocomposites, and acrylsilane modified C20A are dispersed more finely than unmodified C20A in PU matrix. DMTA, pencil hardness and adhesion test onto PET substrate showed that the clay nanolayers induced an increase in the properties, and the enhancement in the properties was more pronounced in the PU/acrylsilane modified C20A nanocomposites than in the PU/unmodified C20A nanocomposites. It was also observed that the PU/surface modified clay nanocomposites showed remarkably lower shrinkage upon UV curing than the unfilled PU. The nanocomposites showed excellent optical transparency but lower gloss as compared to unfilled PU.