Polyurethane Nanocomposites with Open-Cell Structure Modified with Aluminosilicate Nano-Filler

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Flexible polyurethane (PU) foams are widely used in upholstery.
• There is a need for improved foam properties and sustainable manufacturing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of halloysite nano-filler addition on the properties of flexible PU foams.
• To develop environmentally friendly foams with enhanced functional properties for the upholstery industry.

Main Methods:

• Modification of PU formulations with 1-5 parts per hundred parts of polyol (php) of halloysite nano-filler.
• Characterization of foam morphology using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
• Evaluation of physical and mechanical properties: apparent density, compressive stress, rebound flexibility, SAG factor, closed-cell content, and thermal stability.

Main Results:

• Addition of halloysite nano-filler resulted in smaller, more rounded open cells.
• Increased nano-filler content led to higher apparent densities, SAG factors, and rebound flexibilities.
• Resistance to permanent deformation decreased with higher nano-filler content.

Conclusions:

• Halloysite nano-fillers beneficially modify the structure and properties of flexible PU foams.
• Optimized formulations enable the production of sustainable, high-performance foams for upholstery.
• The study highlights the potential of nanocomposite flexible polyurethane foams (nFPUfs) for industrial applications.