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Influence of nanosilica on the morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of polyurethane elastomer
Author(s) -
Lučić Blagojević Sanja,
Buhin Zrinka,
Pustak Anđela,
Lukić Kovačić Ružica
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.36290
Subject(s) - crystallinity , materials science , composite material , polyurethane , elastomer , spherulite (polymer physics) , scanning electron microscope , fumed silica , polymer , morphology (biology) , genetics , biology
In this article, the influence of fumed silica nanofiller on the structure and properties of segmented polyurethane elastomer (PUR) was investigated. In order to investigate the interactions at the filler–matrix interface, nonmodified and commercially modified fillers (with methacrylsilane and octylsilane) were used. The PUR composites with 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 9.0 vol % of all fillers were prepared by solution casting method. Surface free energy of the fillers and polymer matrix was determined using contact angle measurements with different testing liquids. Change in morphology was analyzed using optical polarization microscopy and distribution of the filler in polymer matrix using scanning electron microscopy. The influences of silica fillers on mechanical and thermal properties of PUR were investigated. Results showed that surface treatment of silica filler with methacrylsilane and octylsilane reduces the agglomeration of particles that improves dispersion at microlevel. Addition of all fillers disrupts spherulite morphology and decreases crystallinity of the PUR matrix. Nonmodified silica nanofiller has the least pronounced influence on spherulite morphology and the lowest influence on polyurethane crystallinity and thus the best mechanical properties. Surface modification of silica with octylsilane has less influence on polyurethane crystallinity and on decreasing of mechanical properties than modification with methacrylsilane. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012