Formulation of micro-phase separation kinetics of polyurethane nanocomposites

In the present study, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPUs) reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes, Closite 30B nanoplates, and halloysite nanotubes were produced via melt compounding approach and evaluated with many techniques including microscopy, spectroscopy, thermal, and rheological analyses. Following primary analyses, time sweep tests were used to determine the influence of temperature, applied preshear, and type of nanofillers on the micro-phase separation kinetics of the nanocomposites. Based on the experimental results, a semi-experimental equation was developed to explain the relation between those parameters and micro-phase separation time. The equation is able to predict micro-phase separation time of TPU nanocomposites possessing different nanofillers at various shear rates and temperatures.