Electrospinning of polyurethane/organically modified montmorillonite nanocomposites
Abstract
Polyurethane/organically modified montmorillonite (PU/O‑MMT) nanocomposites were electrospun and the effect of O‑MMT on the morphology and physical properties of the PU/O‑MMT nanofiber mats were investigated for the first time. The average diameters of the PU/O‑MMT nanofibers were ranged from 150 to 410 nm. The conductivities of the PU/O‑MMT solutions were linearly increased with increasing the content of O‑MMT, which caused a decrease in the average diameters of the PU/O‑MMT nanofibers. The as‑electrospun PU and PU/O‑MMT nanofibers were not microphase separated. The exfoliated MMT layers were well distributed within the PU/O‑MMT nanofibers and oriented along the fiber axis. When the PU/O‑MMT nanofibers were annealed, the exfoliated MMT layers hindered the microphase separation of the PU. The electrospinning of PU/O‑MMT nanocomposites resulted in PU nanofiber mats with improved Young's modulus and tensile strength.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Polymer Science B Polymer Physics
- Pub Date:
- November 2005
- DOI:
- 10.1002/polb.20610
- Bibcode:
- 2005JPoSB..43.3171H