Mechanical Properties and Tribological Behaviour of Polyurethane Elastomer Reinforced with CaCO3 Nanoparticles

In this work polyurethane (PU) elastomers based on poly(propylene glycol), diisocyanate and 2,2-Bis (hydroxymethyl)propionic acid were synthesized. CaCO3 nanoparticles were modified through esterification to increase their interactions with the PU matrix. A series of nanocomposites from polyurethane incorporated with various low concentrations of calcium carbonate were obtained. The effects of nanoparticles content on mechanical properties and the tribological behaviour of the PU composites filled with CaCO3 nanoparticles were investigated. Investigations of the worn surfaces showed that the fillers of CaCO3 nanoparticles were able to enhance the adhesion of the transfer films to the surface of counterpart ring, so they significantly reduced the wear rate of the PU matrix.