Study of elastomeric polyurethane nanocomposites prepared from grafted organic-montmorillonite

4,4'-Diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) was grafted on to organic-montmorillonite (OMMT) by reaction between hydroxyl groups (-OH) on surface of the montmorillonite and the isocyanate groups (-NCO) of MDI, thus forming grafted organic-montmorillonite (MOMMT). Intercalated nanocomposites based on polyurethane (PU) and MOMMT were prepared by solution intercalation technology. The interface interaction of PU/MOMMT nanocomposites was better than that of PU/MMT composites. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and tear strength of the PU/ MOMMT nanocomposites increased for MOMMT content up to 5% w/w, and then decreased with further increase in MOMMT content. At the same filler content, the tensile strength and tear strength of PU/MOMMT nanocomposites were higher than those of PU/OMMT nanocomposites, whereas the elongations at break of PU/MOMMT nanocomposites were smaller than those of PU/OMMT nanocomposites. The initial temperatures of weight loss of PU/MOMMT nanocomposites were lower than for PU/MMT composites in the first step of thermal degradation, whereas in the second step initial temperatures of weight loss were higher for PU/ MOMMT nanocomposites.