Mechanical properties of attapulgite clay reinforced polyurethane shape-memory nanocomposites

Ben Xu, Wei Min Huang, Yu Tao Pei, Zhen Guo Chen, Arno Kraft, Robert Reuben, Jeff de Hosson, Yong Qing Fu

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    121 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Nanocomposites based on attapulgite clay and shape-memory polyurethane were fabricated by mechanical mixing. The mechanical properties of samples were evaluated using a micro-indentation tester. The untreated commercial attapulgite clay resulted in a significant decrease in glass transition temperature and hardness of the nanocomposite due to the presence of moisture as well as the clay’s amorphous structure and surface hydroxyl groups. The attapulgite nanoparticles were heat-treated at 850 °C, which resulted in crystallization of the particles and formation of layered attapulgite structure. The hardness of the nanocomposites composed of the heat treated clay powder dramatically increased as a function of clay content, which is attributed to the homogeneous dispersion of the nanofillers in the polymer matrix and strong filler–polymer interactions. Shape recovery of indentations has been demonstrated upon heating.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1904-1911
    JournalEuropean Polymer Journal
    Volume45
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

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