Effect of silica nanoparticles on polyurethane foaming process and foam properties

Abstract

Nanomaterials offer a wide range of possibilities to obtain nanocomposites with specific properties. The combination of FPUF with silica nanoparticles could develop nanocomposites materials with unique properties. Flexible polyurethane foams (FPUFs) are commonly used as cushioning material in upholstered products made on different industrial sectors: furniture, automotive seating, bedding, etc. Their typical properties (density, compressive, tensile strength, thermal and dimensional stability,
softness...) derive from their cellular structure and can be modified within wide limits depending on the raw materials used in their synthesis.