Morphology and tensile properties of thermoplastic polyurethane-halloysite nanotube nanocomposites

Abstract

The high aspect ratio of nanoscale reinforcements enhances the tensile properties of a pure polymer matrix.Researchers have reported the morphology and tensile properties of thermoplastic polyurethane and halloysite nanotube (TPU-HNTs) nanocomposites, formed through compression moulding processes.Few researchers have reported on TPU-HNTs formed through injection moulding.Therefore, the present work investigates the tensile properties of TPU and HNT nanocomposites via injection moulding.TPU and HNTs were mixed using a brabender mixer with concentrations ranging from 1wt.% to 15wt.% and varying mixing parameters (i.e., mixing speed, mixing time, and mixing temperature).Tensile bars were injection moulded by varying the moulding parameters (i.e., injection temperature, injection time, and injection pressure).A significant increment of tensile strength was found at 1wt.% HNT reinforcement.TPU-HNT nanocomposite with 1wt.% reinforcement exhibited tensile strength of 24.3 MPa, which was higher than that of pure TPU.The Young's modulus of the TPU-15wt.%HNT nanocomposite was 21.5 MPa.Thus, TPU-HNT had improved mechanical properties, compared to pure TPU, due to the addition of a nanofiller.