ABSTRACT
The high temperature resistant polymer-nanocomposite was prepared using montmorillonite nanoclay as reinforcing fillers in polyester-based thermoplastic polyurethane/EPDM blends and the effect of increasing nanoclay loadings on physico-mechanical properties like hardness, tensile strength, modulus and Elongation at break was studied. Changes in mechanical and physical properties of polyurethane thermoplastic during aging at 70°C for 168 hours were investigated. The mechanical properties of nanocomposite after heat ageing studies at 70°C for 168 hours showed improved thermal resistance and increases with loading of nanoclay. The prolongation of the thermal exposure time, leads to a progressive increase in tensile strength. These results can be explained by the increase of thermal stability due to the increase of material rigidity and the decrease in chain mobility. The evaluation of the mechanical properties from tensile tests seems to be well correlated to the creep behaviour. The dispersion of the MMT nanoclay filler in the TPU/EPDM blends was achieved using aminopropyltriethoxysilane as coupling agent and investigated by SEM. The functionalized clay indicating improved interfacial bonding between clay and polymer matrix.
