HGMS-TPU Composite Foam Fabrication and Property Analysis.pdf

1、In the past couple of years, a lot of research work has been published on polymeric foams.Thisis probably due to the role they play in their application in many fields or their low weight whichleads to light, impact abso

2、rbing structures where applied.However, these foams do not meet therequirements for high performance applications like withstanding high compressive strength atlow density.Many researchers have concentrated on the develo

3、pment of foams by synthesisusing new polymers and a number of papers have been published on reinforced thermoplasticpolyurethane (TPU) foams using the mentioned approach.
　　 This study examined recent developments in

4、 hollow glass microspheres (HGMS) reinforcedpolymeric foams with particular reference to polyurethane composites.Thermoplasticpolyurethane foams were successfully prepared from commercial grade TPU polymer usingextrusion

5、 and compression molding.Hollow glass microspheres were selected as the reinforcingmaterials.To enhance interfacial adhesion between filler and the matrix, three methods ofsurface modification were studied.FT-IR and SEM

6、were used to analyze and observe themodified surfaces and morphology of fabricated foam.Density, hardness and mechanicalproperties of the foam were also tested.
　　 FT-IR and SEM analysis showed that, using NaOH to hy

7、droxylate the surface of HGMS led to auniformly modified surface structure of the HGMS which was desirable for reinforcing TPUfoam, although HCL gave good surface structure as per FT-IR, SEM observations showed lackof un

8、iformity in the surface structure of the HGMS.Increasing the content of foaming agentfrom 1％ to 2％ decreased the tensile strength of the foam by about 50％.The tensile strengthdecreased by about 40％ when the content of HG

9、MS was increased from 0％ to 3％.Thecompressive strength of the composite foam increased by 47％ when the content of HGMS wasincreased from 0％ to 7％.Increasing HGMS content led to a decrease in the density and increasein ha