Preparation and Characterization of Thermally Conductive Thermoplastic Polyurethane/h-BN Nanocomposites

Polyurethane nanocomposites are versatile engineering polymers with unique properties. In this study, nano hexagonal boron nitride containing thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers were prepared via melt blending and hot-pressing techniques. The nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, tensile tests, and thermal conductivity measurements. The surface morphology of the TPU/h-BN composites was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The optical properties of the composites were determined by UV transmittance measurements and as the amount of h-BN increased, optical transparencies decreased dramatically. Nanocomposites displayed higher E-modulus values and lower elongation at break values than the pure TPU elastomer. Char yields of TPUs increased with increasing h-BN percentage. Moreover, thermal conductivity of the composite materials improved with the incorporation of h-BN. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:530-538, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers.