Microfoamed Polyurethanes Reinforced with Natural Fibers

RÁCZ, I.; MARCOVICH, N. E.; ARANGUREN, M. I.

Budapest, Hungary

Simposio; 8th International Symposium. Polymers for Advanced Technologies; 2005

The objective of this work was to prepare and characterize reinforced foamed PU, that can be used in car interior panels, construction and acustic insulation. A recycled PU and a PU synthesized from a polyalcohol derived from castor oil were used in different formulations, adjusted to obtain different foaming levels. Microfoamed composites with the fibers mostly aligned in one direction, crossed at 90º and at 45º were prepared from long hemp fibers. Also, samples with random arrangement of short wood fibers were prepared varying the average fiber size. The mechanical performance of the reinforced foams were studied through three point bending and dynamic mechanical tests. The morphology of the composites (cell type and diameter, fiber-PU interface) was analyzed by scanning electronic microscopy