pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S09 - Polymer nanocomposites
Poster Presentation
 
 

Weather resistant thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposite films

ADAK BAPAN (1)*, Joshi Mangala (1), Butola Bhupendra Singh (1)

(1) INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI - DELHI - India

In this study, the synergistic effect of different organic UV additives such as UV-absorber (Tinuvin 328), HALS (Tinuvin 770), antioxidant (Irganox 1076) and antiozonant (6PPD) as well as the effect of inorganic UV-Shielding nanopowder (nano-TiO2 and ZnO) on weather resistance property of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films were studied. Ten polyurethane films were produced using these UV-additives in different combinations. The mixing of TPU and UV additives were done in a micro twin screw extruder, followed by preparation of film in compression molding. The accelerated weathering was carried out by exposing these films in a weather-o-meter up to 300h under UV-light plus raining cycle as per ISO 4892 method. The weather resistance performance was analyzed in term of change of UPF, tensile properties and yellowness index of the films before and after exposure. The chemical change before and after exposure were analyzed by FTIR. The surface morphology of the films (before and after exposure) was studied by SEM, where some crack was found in some films after 300h exposure. Incorporation of UV-shielding nanopower in TPU matrix resulted in improved tensile properties of the films. However, in presence of organic UV-additive with nanopowder, almost no improvement was observed in tensile properties, due to plasticizing effect of organic UV additives. It was observed that the organic UV absorber was quite efficient to increase UPF value initially and a good synergistic effect was found with HALS and antioxidant. However, there was an issue of sustainability due to continuous leaching out of organic UV additives. On the other hand, UPF value increased significantly with about 3wt% loading of UV-shielding nanopowder due to their UV absorbance plus UV reflectance property. However, only UV-shielding nanopowder was not effective to increase UPF value at lower concentration. Incorporation of organic UV-additives with UV-shielding nanopowder resulted in good weather resistance properties even at very low concentration about 1 wt% and also provided sustained effect. Similarly, the antiozonant showed good synergistic weather resistant effect with UV-shielding nanopowder.