Nanocomposites of Polyurethane Elastomers for High-rate and Large-strain Applications

摘要

Polyurethane is recently finding applications in increasing survivability where the structure of materials experiences large strain deformation at high strain rates, e.g., blast and ballistic loading events. In these events, the materials are required to be strong, stiff and ductile. Nanoreinforcement has been shown to lead to higher stiffness and strength without necessarily losing extensibility. The purpose of our research is to fabricate nanocomposites of polyurethane elastomers with enhanced stiffness and strength by dispersing nanofiller, Laponite, using a solvent exchange method. Here, we report formulation of the nanocomposites of a series of polyurethanes and preliminary results based on thermo-mechanical analysis, quasi-static tensile testing and split Hopkinson pressure bar techniques.