Synthesis and characterization of polyurethane foam with functionalized graphene nanoplatelets

Abstract

This work presents the synthesis and characterization of polyurethane (PU) foams incorporating functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (FGN). A 2² factorial design was used, varying the mass ratio between isocyanate and polyol (1:1 and 1:2) and the volume of the FGN suspension (1 and 2 mL) to evaluate the influence of these variables on the final properties of the foams. The samples were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), soluble fraction testing, and oil absorption capacity. FTIR results confirmed the formation of the PU structure, regardless of the presence of FGN. SEM images revealed morphological changes in the foams containing FGN, showing fractures and irregular structures attributed to interactions between the nanomaterial and the polymer matrix. Soluble fraction tests indicated variations in the degree of crosslinking of the foams, while the oil absorption assays demonstrated that the incorporation of FGN did not significantly enhance the oil absorption capacity, indicating that the presence of the nanomaterial did not substantially affect this parameter. Nevertheless, this study contributes to understanding the effects of functionalized graphene on the structure and performance of PU foams, providing insights for the development of materials with tunable properties for specific applications.