Research Article

Comparative investigation of the influence of kaolin and dolomite on the properties of polyurethane foam

¹ Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, PMB, 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
² Industrial Chemistry Department, Federal University of Technology, PMB, 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
³ Center for Nanomechanics and Tribocorrosion, School of Metallurgy, Chemical and Mining Engineering, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

^* e-mail: sroke@futa.edu.ng; iooladele@futa.edu.ng

Received: 4 June 2021
Accepted: 27 September 2021

Abstract

This work investigates the influence of kaolin and dolomite on the properties of polyurethane foam. The selected fillers were pulverized and sieved to obtained < 90 μm that were used as reinforcements in the polyurethane matrix in a randomly dispersed mode. The matrix constituents were mixed in the same ratio while fillers were introduced via a one-shot system approach in predetermined proportions of 3–7 wt.%. The work was carried out to identify optimum fillers to be utilized in the production of polyurethane rigid foams given the effect of the fillers on the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of the foam. FTIR, XRF, and SEM and mechanical property tests were carried out on the filled polyurethane foam. The presence of the fillers in the foam showed a rupture in the structure of the foams with the cells having similar arrangements. The addition of dolomite and Kaolin degrades the sulfonic acid groups and promoted the appearance of Si–O stretching vibration band. The density, hardness, flexural and compressive strengths of the polyurethane foam were enhanced with the the addition of dolomite and kaolin particles.