Improvement of Mechanical Properties and Self-Healing Efficiency by Ex-Situ Incorporation of TiO₂ Nanoparticles to a Waterborne Poly(Urethane-Urea).

ABSTRACT: This research work was focused on the incorporation of TiO₂ nanoparticles into synthesized solvent-free waterborne poly(urethane-urea) (WPUU) based on hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PU0) in order to improve both the mechanical properties and self-healing effectiveness of a polymer matrix. The incorporation of TiO₂ nanoparticles resulted in a successful enhancement of the mechanical properties of nanocomposite films when compared to PU0. Simultaneously, the obtained nanocomposite films did not only maintain the self-healing ability of the PU0 film, measured by means of mechanical properties after successive cutting/recovery cycles, but they also showed a higher self-healing efficiency than the PU0 film. Moreover, the well-dispersed TiO₂ nanoparticles, visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), kept their conductive properties when embedded in the PU0 matrix, as was confirmed by electrostatic force microscopy (EFM). This research work described a simple and industrially appealing way to control the dispersion of commercially available TiO₂ nanoparticles in waterborne poly(urethane-urea) for the designing of inorganic/organic hybrid nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties and self-healing efficiency, in which TiO₂ nanoparticles preserved their conductive properties within the polymer matrix.

SUBMITTER: Diez-Garcia I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6680434 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature