Manufacture and Characterization of Polyuretan Foam Nanocomposites with the Addition of Nanozeolite Alam Sarulla Fillers

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 13 views

Manufacture and Characterization of Polyuretan Foam Nanocomposites with the Addition of Nanozeolite Alam Sarulla Fillers

Introduction

The development of polyurethane foam nanocomposites with the addition of natural nanozeolite fillers has gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential applications in various industries. This study focuses on the manufacture and characterization of polyurethane foam nanocomposites with the addition of Nanozeolite Alam Sarulla fillers. The research was conducted in three main stages: preparation and refining of natural zeolites, making nanozeolite, and the manufacture of polyurethane foam nanocomposites through a reaction by mixing natural nanozeolite into a mixture of polypropylene glycol and toluene.

Preparation and Refining of Natural Zeolites

The initial stage of this study involved the preparation and refining of natural zeolites. The analysis of particle size using the Particle Size Analyzer showed that the size of the Sarulla nanozeolite particle was 95.8 Nm. This indicates that the nanozeolite has a fairly small size, allowing it to interact with other materials at the micro level. The analysis using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) revealed the main composition of Nanozeolite Sarulla, namely SiO2 (80.98%) and Al2O3 (14.21%). Meanwhile, the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the type of nanozeolite Sarulla is a mordenite, which is famous for its good adsorption properties.

Manufacture of Polyurethane Foam Nanocomposites

The manufacture of polyurethane foam nanocomposites involved varying the ratio of the weight of nanozeolite as a filler to polypropylene glycol and toluene in different proportions (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25)%. This study also included the characterization of mechanical properties, thermal properties, and morphology and chemical properties of the resulting nanocomposite.

Characterization of Mechanical Properties

The results of mechanical testing with ASTM D 638 V standard showed that the use of 20% WT Nanozeolite as a filler can increase the modulus of elasticity by 36% (to 219.9 MPa) and increase tensile strength by 89% (to 2.9 MPa). This increase indicates that the addition of nanozeolite has the potential to improve the mechanical performance of polyurethane foam.

Characterization of Thermal Properties

Chemical characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that both polyurethane foam and nanocomposite polyurethane foam have almost the same functional group. This indicates that the interaction between polyurethane and nanozeolite foam is more physical than a strong chemical reaction.

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that pure polyurethane foam has a residue of 16.89% at 580.01 °C, while nanocomposite polyurethane foam has a residue of 34.22% at 589.82 °C. This indicates that the addition of nanozeolite increases thermal stability of polyurethane foam. In addition, the analysis of the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed that the melting point (TM) of polyurethane is 344.80 °C, while the TM for polyurethane foam nanocomposite is 380.18 °C, indicating an increase in thermal properties due to agglomeration between polyurethane foam and nanozeolite.

Conclusion

This study shows that the use of Sarulla natural nanozeolite as a filler in nanocomposite polyurethane does not only improve mechanical properties but also thermal properties of the composite. This finding opens opportunities for wider applications of polyurethane foam nanocomposite in various industries, including construction, automotive, and electronic, where superior mechanical and thermal properties are very necessary.

Future Directions

The results of this study suggest that the use of natural nanozeolite as a filler in polyurethane foam nanocomposites has great potential for various applications. Future studies can focus on optimizing the ratio of nanozeolite to polypropylene glycol and toluene to achieve the best mechanical and thermal properties. Additionally, the study of the effect of nanozeolite on the morphology and chemical properties of polyurethane foam nanocomposites can provide valuable insights into the development of new materials with improved properties.

References

ASTM D 638 V standard
Particle Size Analyzer
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

Keywords

Polyurethane foam nanocomposites
Nanozeolite Alam Sarulla
Mechanical properties
Thermal properties
Morphology and chemical properties
Natural nanozeolite
Polypropylene glycol
Toluene
Construction
Automotive
Electronic
Q&A: Manufacture and Characterization of Polyuretan Foam Nanocomposites with the Addition of Nanozeolite Alam Sarulla Fillers

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the purpose of this study? A: The purpose of this study is to investigate the manufacture and characterization of polyurethane foam nanocomposites with the addition of Nanozeolite Alam Sarulla fillers.

Q: What are the main stages of this study? A: The main stages of this study are: preparation and refining of natural zeolites, making nanozeolite, and the manufacture of polyurethane foam nanocomposites through a reaction by mixing natural nanozeolite into a mixture of polypropylene glycol and toluene.

Q: What is the significance of the particle size of the Sarulla nanozeolite? A: The particle size of the Sarulla nanozeolite is significant because it indicates that the nanozeolite has a fairly small size, allowing it to interact with other materials at the micro level.

Q: What is the main composition of Nanozeolite Sarulla? A: The main composition of Nanozeolite Sarulla is SiO2 (80.98%) and Al2O3 (14.21%).

Q: What type of nanozeolite is Sarulla? A: The type of nanozeolite Sarulla is a mordenite, which is famous for its good adsorption properties.

Q: What is the effect of adding 20% WT Nanozeolite as a filler on the mechanical properties of polyurethane foam? A: The addition of 20% WT Nanozeolite as a filler can increase the modulus of elasticity by 36% (to 219.9 MPa) and increase tensile strength by 89% (to 2.9 MPa).

Q: What is the effect of adding Nanozeolite on the thermal properties of polyurethane foam? A: The addition of Nanozeolite increases thermal stability of polyurethane foam, as shown by the residue of 34.22% at 589.82 °C.

Q: What is the melting point of polyurethane foam nanocomposite? A: The melting point of polyurethane foam nanocomposite is 380.18 °C, which is higher than that of pure polyurethane foam.

Q: What are the potential applications of polyurethane foam nanocomposites? A: The potential applications of polyurethane foam nanocomposites include construction, automotive, and electronic industries, where superior mechanical and thermal properties are very necessary.

Q: What are the future directions of this study? A: The future directions of this study include optimizing the ratio of nanozeolite to polypropylene glycol and toluene to achieve the best mechanical and thermal properties, and studying the effect of nanozeolite on the morphology and chemical properties of polyurethane foam nanocomposites.

Additional Questions and Answers

Q: What is the significance of using natural nanozeolite as a filler in polyurethane foam nanocomposites? A: The use of natural nanozeolite as a filler in polyurethane foam nanocomposites is significant because it can improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite.

Q: What are the advantages of using polyurethane foam nanocomposites? A: The advantages of using polyurethane foam nanocomposites include improved mechanical and thermal properties, reduced weight, and increased durability.

Q: What are the potential challenges of using polyurethane foam nanocomposites? A: The potential challenges of using polyurethane foam nanocomposites include the difficulty of processing and manufacturing, and the potential for degradation of the composite over time.

Conclusion

This Q&A article provides a summary of the main findings and implications of the study on the manufacture and characterization of polyurethane foam nanocomposites with the addition of Nanozeolite Alam Sarulla fillers. The study highlights the potential benefits of using natural nanozeolite as a filler in polyurethane foam nanocomposites, including improved mechanical and thermal properties. However, further research is needed to optimize the ratio of nanozeolite to polypropylene glycol and toluene, and to study the effect of nanozeolite on the morphology and chemical properties of polyurethane foam nanocomposites.