New polyurethane nanocomposites based on soya oil

• Main Authors: Mohammed, Issam Ahmed, Abd Khadir, Nurul Khizrien, Al-Mulla, Emad Abbas Jaffar
• Format: Article
• Published: Japan Oil Chemists' Society 2014
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34647/; https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jos/63/2/63_ess13099/_article
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

New polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites were prepared from a dispersion of 0 - 5% montmorillonite (MMT) clay with isocyanate and soya oil polyol that was synthesized via transesterification of triglycerides to reduce petroleum dependence. FT-IR spectra indicate the presence of hydrogen bonding between nanoclay and the polymer matrix, whereas the exfoliated structure of clay layers was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Optical microscopy, mechanical and thermal analyses were done to investigate significant improvement of the nanocomposites. The results showed PU–3% nanoclay (NC) showed optimum results in mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strength but the lowest in impact strength.