Dynamic- and Thermo-mechanical Analysis of Inorganic Nanotubes/elastomer Composites

• Published in: Sensors & transducers Vol. 12; no. Special issue; p. 71
• Main Authors: Fuith, Armin, Reinecker, Marius, Sánchez-Ferrer, Antoni, Mezzenga, Raffaele, Mrzel, Ales, Knite, Maris, Aulika, Ilze, Dunce, Marija, Schranz, Wilfred
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Toronto IFSA Publishing, S.L 01.10.2011
• Subjects: Elastomers; Mechanical properties; Molecular weight; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Nanotubes; Nanowires; Polymers; Polyureas; Temperature; Thermal expansion
• ISSN: 2306-8515; 1726-5479; 1726-5479

We present dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) measurements of a new type of polyurea elastomer nanocomposites based on inorganic MoS^sub 2^ nanotubes and MO^sub 6^S^sub 2^I^sub 8^ nanowires. The addition of a small amount of nanoparticles (<1 wt-%) leads to an increase of the glass transition temperature T^sub g^ as compared to the pure elastomeric matrix. A second peak observed in tanδ in the pure and mixed elastomer is attributed to a second glass transition occurring in regions near the hard nanodomains of the microphase separated polyurea system. It is also found that the small amount of nanoparticles leads to an increase in the Young's modulus of up to 15 % in the whole measured temperature range (from -130 °C to 20 °C). The thermal expansion of doped samples is considerably larger above T^sub g^. Below T^sub g^, this difference vanishes completely. A very similar behaviour was also found in measurements of polyisoprene/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]