Polymer-filler interactions and mechanical properties of a polyurethane elastomer

Films of a polyester-based polyurethane containing silica particles in a concentration range from 1 to 20 phr were prepared from THF solutions. Two types of silica were used resulting from two different thermal treatments of precipitated silica, yielding different surface hydroxyl concentrations. Some of their mechanical properties were measured and the reinforcement mechanism was discussed in terms of interactions between the hydroxyl groups and hard or soft segments of the polymer chains. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.