Abstract
It is challenging to prepare polyurethane bioplastics from renewable resources in a sustainable world. In this work, polyurethane nanocomposite bioplastics are fabricated by blending up to 80 wt % of soy-based polyol and petrochemical polyol with hydroxyl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-OH). The scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses reveal homogeneous dispersion of the MWCNTs-OH in the matrix, as well as interaction or reaction of MWCNTs-OH with the matrix or polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) in forming the organic–inorganic hybrid bioplastic with a three-dimensional (3D) macromolecule network structure. Mechanical properties and electrical conductivity are remarkably enhanced with the increase of the multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) loading. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results show that the bioplastics with MWCNTs-OH have a better thermal stability compared with the bioplastics without MWCNTs-OH. The composition of the nanocomposites, which defines the characteristics of the material and its thermal and electrical conductivity properties, can be precisely controlled by simply varying the concentration of MWCNTs-OH in the polyol mixture solution.
Highlights
Nowadays, the requirement of the sustainability of petroleum-based polyurethane (PU) materials has led to increasing demands of the raw materials from natural resources [1]
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the samples was carried out under the N2, with a TGA Q500 their properties, such as mechanical and thermal properties, etc. [21,22]; density determines their at a heating rate of 10 °C/min from 25 to 600 °C
Results and Discussion the MWCNTs-OH, are suitable for being used as reinforcing filler for PU materials designed by direct compression
Summary
The requirement of the sustainability of petroleum-based polyurethane (PU) materials has led to increasing demands of the raw materials from natural resources [1]. For building a more sustainable society, the environmentally-friendly bioplastics produced by renewable resources are in growing demand [2]. Polymers 2019, 11, 763 has been used as an alternative raw material to prepare soy-based polyols [4]. Many advantages, such as great biodegradability, low toxicity, and sustainability, are presented, by using these polyols as a reagent for the synthesis of PUs. Soybean phosphate ester polyol (SOPEP) is a great sample [5]—it is made by acid hydrolysis of soybean oil in the presence of phosphoric acid. The SOPEP is suitable for designing rigid biofoams and bioplastics, due to its high functionality and hydroxyl value [6]
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