Natural fibrous nanoclay reinforced soy polyol-based polyurethane

In this study, novel soy polyol-based polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites were synthesized with the aim of determining the effect of the natural fibrous nanoclay (attapulgite, ATT) loading on the properties of PU nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the relatively homogeneous dispersion of ATT in the PU matrix. After the addition of ATT, a significant ATT reinforcement effect on PU was found. In the case of 12 wt.% ATT addition, 16.8 degrees C improvement in the glass transition temperature, 443% increment in tensile strength, and 8-fold increase in Young's modulus were obtained. Furthermore, the elongation at break of PU nanocomposites decreased with increased ATT content. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier By. All rights reserved.