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Properties and preparation of thermoplastic polyurethane/silica hybrids using a modified sol–gel process
Author(s) -
Lai S.M.,
Liu S.D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.20669
Subject(s) - thermoplastic polyurethane , materials science , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , composite material , thermoplastic elastomer , aqueous solution , elastomer , scanning electron microscope , sol gel , dispersion (optics) , extraction (chemistry) , tetrahydrofuran , thermoplastic , polyurethane , chemical engineering , copolymer , polymer , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , solvent , chemistry , physics , optics , engineering
Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer/silica hybrids (TPU/SiO 2 ) were prepared using a modified sol–gel process. This modified approach used tetrahydrofuran (THF) to extract polysilicic acid from aqueous sodium metasilicate solutions. A THF or aqueous solution containing sol particles was mixed with TPU solution to form TPU/silica hybrids. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and dynamical mechanical properties were recorded to depict the interfacial interaction. Storage modulus increased due to the reinforcement of the in situ silica. Tear strength decreased significantly with increasing in situ silica content. Cutting strength decreased slightly due to crack tip confinement. The modified process with extraction showed improved mechanical properties and better optical properties than the conventional sol–gel process without extraction. The fracture surface was revealed through SEM (scanning electron microscopy) to observe the degree of SiO 2 dispersion, which in turn confirmed the optical and mechanical property results. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:77–86, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers