Thermal and mechanical properties of polyurethane/montmorillonite nanocomposites based on a novel reactive modifier

Polyurethane/montmorillonite (PU/MMT) nanocomposites based on thermally stable, aromatic amine modifier containing active groups (methylene-bis-ortho-chloroanilline, MOCA) were synthesized by intercalative polymerisation. The cured hybrid exhibited higher thermal stability and better mechanical strength than pure polyurethane or polyurethane/cetyltrimethyl-ammonium-bromide (CTAB)-modified MMT (PU/C-16-MMT). The moduli and the onset degradation temperature for the PU were obviously increased by addition of MMT treated with the MOCA (MO-MMT), and the mechanical strength was dramatically increased by about 600% for the MO-MMT only increased by about 450% for the C-16-MMT at the point of 5 wt% organically modified MMT content. Surprisingly, the glass transition temperature of the PU/organic-MMT nanocomposites was lower than that of the PU. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.