Preparation and Characterization of Polyurethane Nanocomposites Using Vietnamese Montmorillonite Modified by Polyol Surfactants

This study focuses on the preparation of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposite using Vietnamese montmorillonite (MMT) as the reinforced phase. The MMT was previously modified by intercalating polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) molecules between the clay layers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results of organoclays revealed that galleries of MMT were increased to 18.2 angstrom and 27 angstrom after their intercalation with PEO and PVA, respectively. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites composed of 1, 3, 5, and 7% wt organoclays were synthesized. The result of XRD and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analyses implied that the PEO modified MMT was well dispersed, at 3% wt, in polyurethane matrix. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic (FTIR) has confirmed this result by showing the hydrogenous interaction between the urethane linkage and OH group on the surface of silicate layer. Thermogravimetric (TG) showed that the organoclay samples also presented improved thermal stabilities. In addition, the effects of the organoclays on mechanical performance and water absorption of the PU nanocomposite were also investigated.