RESUMO
In the present study, composites of water-soluble polyurethane/calcium carbonate (CaCO3) were prepared from a soft segment of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and polyethylene glycol (PEG, average molecular weight = 4000) with aliphatic diisocyanates. The functionality of CaCO3 particles was modified using aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The solubility, hydrophilic properties, and chemical structures of the composites were analyzed by water-solubility tests, contact angle measurements, and FTIR, respectively, and the successful production of the hydrophilic water-soluble polyurethane (WSPU) structure was demonstrated. The adhesion of surface-modified CaCO3 particles to the WSPU matrix and the thermal degradation properties of the neat WSPU and WSPU/CaCO3 composites were studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results demonstrated good adhesion of the surface-modified CaCO3 particles along with an improved thermal degradation temperature with the addition of CaCO3 particles to the WSPU matrix.
RESUMO
Polybutylene succinate (PBS) composites filled with various mass fractions of silicon carbide (SiC) particles were fabricated via slow melt extrusion. The morphological analysis revealed that the fabrication technique assisted in achieving a good adhesion between the PBS and SiC, along with excellent filler dispersion throughout the PBS matrix. The inclusion of 40 wt.% SiC in the PBS composite afforded a 10 °C increase in the thermal degradation temperature and a 160% enhancement in the thermal conductivity relative to the neat PBS. The crystallization temperature also increased with the inclusion of SiC particles, thus making the composites easier to process. Furthermore, the improvement in the Young's modulus of the PBS composites increased their rigidity and stiffness relative to the neat PBS.
