Effects of fillers on polyurethane resin-based polyurethane elastomeric bearing materials for passive isolation

Abstract

A series of cork and black carbon filler incorporated cross-linked molded polyurethane (PU), based on polyethylene adipate diol and 4,4' diphenyl methane diisocyanate with 1,4 butane diol or 1,6 hexane diol and glycerin as chain extender, were synthesized. Mechanical properties were examined in composites that had between 1 and 15% cork and carbon black between 2 and 3%. Therefore, in order to understand the behavior of fillers, such as carbon black and cork added to cross-link polyurethane resins, several thermal and mechanical tests were conducted on samples, made of these new materials. The mechanical properties of the composites were found to depend mostly on the type and amount of filler. The results show that the polyurethane component ratios in cross-linked polymers, the types of filler, and the amount of powder added all affect the properties of the filled cross-linked polyurethanes. The addition of cork filler into polyurethane composites yields an increase in Young's modulus and a decrease in the elongation at break. This new cross-linked polyurethaneĝ€"matrix and polyurethaneĝ€"cork composite materials with better damping properties can be used as a bearing pad for acoustic and vibratory isolation for railway and underground lines. © 2008 SAGE Publications.