Synthesis and characterization of thermoplastic polyurethane/nanoclay composites

In this study thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites were obtained with different nanoclay contents (0, 1, 3 for all cases and 10 wt.% in some cases). The nanoclay Cloisite®30B (C30B) was dispersed in the TPU matrix by melt processing (twin-screw extruder; TPU-E composites) and during bulk polymerization (TPU-S composites). The synthesis method involved the two-step bulk polymerization of polyesterpolyol (molecular weight 2000 g mol− 1) and diphenylmethanediisocyanate (MDI) with 1,4-butanediol as the chain extender. The dispersion state of the nanoclay particles and its effect on the mechanical properties of the composites, before and after ageing, was investigated. The characterization of TPU/nanoclay composites was carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical characterization was performed through determination of the tensile and tear strengths. The TPU-E 3 wt.% composite showed the best improvement with increases in stress and strain at break (28% and 35%, respectively) and energy (88%), compared to the TPU-E (sample without nanoclay).