New waterborne polyurethane-based nanocomposites reinforced with low loading levels of chitin whisker
New waterborne polyurethane (WPU)-based nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating low loading levels of chitin whiskers (ChWs) as the nanophase. The resultant WPU/ChW nanocomposites exhibited prominent enhancement in both strength and Young's modulus, and maintained an elongation of greater...
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| Format: | Article |
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| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
2011-04-01
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| Series: | eXPRESS Polymer Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0001959&mi=cd |
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| Summary: | New waterborne polyurethane (WPU)-based nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating low loading levels of chitin whiskers (ChWs) as the nanophase. The resultant WPU/ChW nanocomposites exhibited prominent enhancement in both strength and Young's modulus, and maintained an elongation of greater than ca. 500%. The ChW loading level of 3 wt% showed the maximum tensile strength (28.8 MPa) and enhanced Young's modulus (6.5 MPa), ca.1.8- and 2.2-fold over those of neat WPU. The active surface and rigidity of ChW facilitated formation of the interface for stress transferring and contributed to higher stress-endurance. As the ChW loading level increased, self-aggregation of ChWs resulted in a decrease in strength; however, the rigidity of ChW still supported the increase in Young's modulus, and the nanocompositescontaining 5 wt% ChWs had the highest Young's modulus (9.6 MPa). This work enriches the research into achieving high mechanical performance of waterborne polyurethane-based nanocomposites by introducing a natural nanofiller, and this high performance 'green' bionanocomposites will likely have promising prospects. |
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| ISSN: | 1788-618X |