Study of Mechanical Ad Rheological Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Reinforced with Various Concentrations of Reduced Graphene Oxide

Abstract

This study investigates the incorporation of various weight fractions of Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) as a nano-filler material to enhance thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) polymer properties. Specifically, we examine the influence of rGO weight fraction on the mechanical characteristics of the resulting TPU/rGO nanocomposites. To assess the impact of preparation methods on the final properties of the TPU/rGO composites, we employed a range of fabrication techniques, including both mechanical (dry) and solvent (wet) mixing. Our results demonstrate a significant improvement in compressive strength and melt flow index when comparing the various mixing techniques to the pure TPU polymer processed under identical conditions. Notably, dry mixing exhibited superior mechanical and viscosity properties compared to wet mixing. The TPU/rGO nanocomposites achieved optimal compressive strength at a 0.1 weight percent rGO loading, outperforming composites with 0.5 and 1.0 weight percent rGO, which were produced using the dry mixing technique. These findings indicate that the processing method plays a crucial role in the formation of TPU/rGO nanocomposites, with effective dispersion of the graphene nanofiller particles within the TPU matrix being a key factor. This research paves the way for innovative applications of TPU/rGO nanocomposites across various industries.