The effect of nano-sized silicate layers from montmorillonite on glass transition, dynamic mechanical, and thermal degradation properties of segmented polyurethane

Isocyanate Modified GO Shape-Memory Polyurethane Composite

Shape-memory composites have benefits for minimally invasive surgery, but their wider applications for bone repair are hindered by conflicts between the mechanical and memory performances, especially at load-bearing locations. In this study, we fabricated a graphene oxide shape-memory polyurethane composite through the chemical combination of graphene oxide and isocyanate, in order to realize satisfactory mechanical and shape-memory effects. As desired, a modulus of ~339 MPa and a shape recovery ratio of 98% were achieved, respectively, in the composite. In addition, finite element analysis demonstrated that, after being implanted in a defective bone through a minimally invasive treatment, where the highest stress was distributed at the implant-bone interface, this composite could offer a generated force during the recovery process. Furthermore, we also discuss the origins of the improved mechanical and memory properties of the composites, which arise from increased net-points and the stable molecular structure inside. Therefore, with its superior structure and properties, we envision that this shape-memory composite can provide new insights toward the practical application of shape-memory polymers and composites in the field of bone repair.

Preparation and Characterization of Graphene Oxide-Modified Sapium sebiferum Oil-Based Polyurethane Composites with Improved Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Bio-based polyurethane (PU) composites with superior thermal and mechanical properties have received wide attention. This is due to the recent rapid developments in the PU industry. In the work reported here, novel nano-composites with graphene oxide (GO)-modified Sapium sebiferum oil (SSO)-based PU has been synthesized via in situ polymerization. GO, prepared using the improved Hummers method from natural graphene (NG), and SSO-based polyol with a hydroxyl value of 211 mg KOH/g, prepared by lipase hydrolysis, were used as raw materials. The microstructures and properties of GO and the nano-composites were both characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile tests. The results showed that GO with its nano-sheet structure possessed a significant number of oxygen-containing functional groups at the surface. The nano-composites containing 1 wt % GO in the PU matrix (PU1) exhibited excellent comprehensive properties. Compared with those for pure PU, the glass transition temperature (Tg) and initial decomposition temperature (IDT) of the PU1 were enhanced by 14.1 and 31.8 °C, respectively. In addition, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the PU1 were also improved by 126% and 102%, respectively, compared to the pure PU. The significant improvement in both the thermal stability and mechanical properties for PU/GO composites was attributed to the homogeneous dispersion and good compatibility of GO with the PU matrix. The improvement in the properties upon the addition of GO may be attributable to the strong interfacial interaction between the reinforcing agent and the PU matrix.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Nanofibril-Reinforced Polyurethane Foam

In this study, traditional polyol was partially replaced with green, environmentally friendly cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). The effects of CNF on the performance of CNF-reinforced polyurethane foam nanocomposites were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and a compression test. The results showed that the introduction of CNF into the polyurethane matrix not only created stronger urethane bonding between the hydroxyl groups in the cellulose chain and isocyanate groups in polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate, but also developed an additional filler⁻matrix interaction between CNF and polyurethane. With the increase of the CNF replacement ratio, a higher glass transition temperature was obtained, and a higher amount of char residue was generated. In addition, an increase of up to 18-fold in compressive strength was achieved for CNF-PUF (polyurethane foam) nanocomposites with a 40% CNF replacement ratio. CNF has proved to be a promising substitute for traditional polyols in the preparation of polyurethane foams. This study provides an interesting method to synthesize highly green bio-oriented polyurethane foams.

Enzyme-Degradable Hybrid Polymer/Silica Microbubbles as Ultrasound Contrast Agents

The fabrication of an enzyme-degradable polymer/silica hybrid microbubble is reported that produces an ultrasound contrast image. The polymer, a triethoxysilane end-capped polycaprolactone (SiPCL), is used to incorporate enzyme-degradable components into a silica microbubble synthesis, and to impart increased elasticity for enhanced acoustic responsiveness. Formulations of 75, 85, and 95 wt % SiPCL in the polymer feed produced quite similar ratios of SiPCL and silica in the final bubble but different surface properties. The data suggest that different regions of the microbubbles were SiPCL-rich: the inner layer next to the polystyrene template core and the outer surface layer, thereby creating a sandwiched silica-rich layer of the bubble shell. Overall, the thickness of the microbubble shell was dependent on the starting TEOS concentration and the reaction time. Despite the layered structure, the microbubble could be efficiently degraded by lipase enzyme, but was stable without enzyme. The ultrasound contrast showed a general trend of increase in image intensity with SiPCL feed ratio, although the 95 wt % SiPCL bubbles did not produce a contrast image, probably due to bubble collapse. At higher normalized peak negative acoustic pressure (mechanical index, MI), a nonlinear frequency response also emerges, characterized by the third harmonic at around 3f0, and increases with MI. The threshold MI transition from linear to nonlinear response increased with decrease in SiPCL.

Polyurethane/Clay Shape Memory Nanocomposites Based on Palm Oil Polyol

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites were prepared using polycaprolactonediol as the soft segment, 4,4’-diphenylmethane diisocyanate as the hard segment, 1,4-butanediol and palm oil polyol. Nanoclay with certain weight percent (wt%) was reinforced as filler to improve both mechanical and shape memory behavior of the nanocomposites. Palm oil polyol was introduced in order to provide hyperbranched structure for better dispersion of filler in the matrix as well as aiding the crosslinking process. The experimental results showed that the mechanical and shape memory behavior of clay reinforced polyurethane nanocomposites were influenced by clay weight percent in the polymer matrix. TPU with 3 wt% clay showed optimum values of mechanical properties while the shape memory behavior decreases with increasing clay content.

Effect of Nano Calcium Carbonate and Montmorillonite on Properties of Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene Copolymer Modified Asphalt

Composite modified asphalts with nano calcium carbonate (nano CaCO3)/ SBS and nano montmorillonite (nano MMT)/SBS were prepared respectively by melt blending. Rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT) was carried out to study the aging properties. The results demonstrate that CaCO3/SBS and MMT/SBS homogeneously disperse in the base asphalt, which lead to an improvement in terms of toughness, strength, and thermal stability. Effects of the nano CaCO3 and nano MMT on the properties of SBS modified asphalt appear as a decreasing penetration, an increasing softening point, and a decreasing ductility. The anti-aging property of the nano MMT/SBS modified asphalt was better than that of the CaCO3/SBS modified asphalt and SBS modified asphalt.

Effect of montmorillonite content in nanocomposites of segmented polyurethanes with poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) sequences

A series of polyurethane/montmorillonite (PU/MMT) nanocomposites, based on poly(tetramethyleneglycol) (PTMG), α,ω-dihydroxylated poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) (PROZO), [4,4’-methylenebis-(phenyl isocyanate)] (MDI) or [4,4’-methylenebis-(cyclohexyl isocyanate)] (H12MDI) and montmorillonite (MMT), were investigated. The amount of added clay ranged from 3 up to 10% by weight. The influence of the MMT weight fraction in the polymer matrix on the morphology and thermal, dynamic mechanical and tensile properties was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry, differential scanning callorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic—mechanical analysis. The results of the investigations were used to rank the nanocomposites according to their properties in relation to the polyurethane matrix structure and MMT content. It was evidenced that the silicate layers were preferentially, but not exclusively, attracted to the hydrophilic polar PROZO domains, their level of dispersion being controlled through specific intermolecular interactions and the filler loading amount. Introducing clay in the polyurethane matrix resulted in an increase of both tensile strength and thermal stability. Their non-monotonic dependence on clay content was explained by considering that concomitant and contrasting effects develop as the clay amount increases: an improvement of the filler—matrix interactions and a reduction of the matrix labile physical crosslinking degree by hydrogen bonding coupled with a lower dispersion homogeneity. For high inorganic filler amount aggregated clay particles together with regions with mixture of exfoliated and intercalated morphologies were revealed.

Well-defined oxide core-polymer shell nanoparticles: interfacial interactions, peculiar dynamics, and transitions in polymer nanolayers

Interfacial interactions, chain dynamics, and glass and melting transitions were studied in well-defined core-shell nanoparticles with amorphous silica or crystalline alumina cores and noncrystallizable poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) or crystallizable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) shells. Varying particle composition caused regular changes in the shell thickness from 1 to 2 nm (monomolecular layer) up to 90 nm. Far- and mid-IR spectroscopy allowed us to register hydrogen bonding and, tentatively, Lewis/Brønsted (LB) interfacial interactions as well as changes in the dynamics and conformational state of the polymer chains as a function of the nanoshell thickness. Their most pronounced peculiarities were found for the monomolecular polymer layers. The LB interactions were stronger with the alumina substrate than silica. DSC analysis was performed, and the data obtained were in agreement with the spectroscopic data. Unlike the bulk polymer, the PVP monolayer was characterized with an extraordinarily large dynamic heterogeneity within the glass transition while broadening the transition range and varying the activation energy by an order of magnitude. The PEG monolayer adsorbed on silica was totally amorphous, whereas a highly crystalline one with the anomalously thin lamellae, down to 3 nm thick, was adsorbed on an alumina surface, presumably as a result of the quasi-heteroepitaxial crystallization process.

Effect of the microstructure of a hyperbranched polymer and nanoclay loading on the morphology and properties of novel polyurethane nanocomposites

Novel polyurethane nanocomposites based on toluene diisocyanate, poly(propylene glycol), various hyperbranched polymers (HBPs), and layered silicate were synthesized with the aim of determining the effect of the layered silicate loading and the functionality of HBP on the structure and properties of polyurethane nanocomposites. The microstructure of the nanocomposites was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It was found that exfoliated morphology and good dispersion were obtained up to 8 phr clay loading for all of the nanocomposites. approximately 100% increment in tensile strength, approximately 2-fold increase in the lap shear strength, approximately 200% increment in the peel strength, and 120% increment in the storage modulus along with a dramatic improvement in thermal stability were observed with the addition of 8 phr clay, over the pristine polyurethane. The higher the level of functionality of the HBP, the higher is the property enhancement. These properties were correlated with the state of dispersion of the clay platelets in the polyurethane matrix, the structure of the matrix, and clay-polymer interaction.