Novel polyether polyurethane/clay nanocomposites synthesized with organic-modified montmorillonite as chain extenders

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2004-10, Vol.94 (2), p.534-541
• Main Authors: Ni, Ping, Li, Jing, Suo, Jishuan, Li, Shuben
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; intercalation; montmorillonite; nanocomposites; organoclay; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; polyurethane; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.20950

A novel polyether polyurethane/clay nanocomposite was synthesized using polytetramethyleneglycol (PTMEG), 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 1,6‐hexamethylenediamine, and modified Na+‐montmorillonite. Here, organic‐modified montmorillonite (O‐MMT) was formed by applying 1,6‐hexamethylenediamine as a swelling agent to treat Na+‐montmorillonite. The X‐ray analysis showed that exfoliation occurred for the higher O‐MMT content (40 wt %) in the polymer matrix. Mechanical analysis indicated that when the O‐MMT was used as chain extender to replace a part of 1,2‐diaminopropane to form PU/clay nanocomposites, the strength and strain‐at‐break of the polymer were enhanced with increased content of O‐MMT in the matrix. When the O‐MMT content attained about 5%, the tensile strength and elongation at break were over two times that of the pure PU. The thermal stability and the glass‐transition of O‐MMT/PU nanocomposites also increased with increasing the O‐MMT content. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 534–541, 2004