Structure and properties of polyurethane-silica nanocomposites

Nanocomposites with different concentrations of nanofiller were prepared by adding nanosilica filler to the single-phase polyurethane matrix. A contro l series was prepared with the same concentrations of micron-size silica. T he nanosilica filler was amorphous, giving composites with the polyurethane that were transparent at all concentrations. The nanocomposites displayed higher strength and elongation at break hut lower density, modulus, and har dness than the corresponding micron-size silica-filled polyurethanes. Altho ugh the nanosilica showed a stronger interaction with the matrix, there wer e no dramatic differences in the dielectric behavior between the two series of composites. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.