Preparation and Characterization from Natural Zeolite Sarulla of North Sumatera Polyurethane Nanocomposite Foams

Abstract

Has made the manufacture of natural zeolite from the Sarulla, District Pahae, North Tapanuli North Sumatra Province in the form of chunks with the process of grinding to a size 200mesh (74μm). The natural zeolite refining and calcination process is carried out at a temperature of 600°C for 1 hour and without the process of purification and calcination and then processed into nano particles of natural zeolite with the ball mill for 21 hours. The method used in research on nanocomposite processing of polyurethane foam are: 1) Preparation of natural zeolite nanoparticles; 2) Preparation of nanocomposite made by mixing nano particles of zeolite in the mixture of PPG and TDI in the mold to room temperature at a rate of 100rpm for 30 seconds, with a composition of nanoparticles of natural zeolite (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) wt; 3) Preparation of specimens for each sample testing in accordance with ASTM D 638 standard sizes for the dumbbell Type V tensile strength; and 4) The characters include: mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation and modulus of elasticity) and morphological analysis by SEM. From the analysis of natural zeolite preparation obtained particle size 129,7nm for natural zeolite calcination, for natural zeolite without calcination obtained 95,8nm particle size. Results of the analysis of chemical constituents of natural zeolite nanoparticles obtained by calcining SiO₂ content of the element (70.98%) and Al₂O₃ (17:22%) while natural zeolite nanoparticles without calcination obtained element SiO₂ content (80.28%) and Al₂O₃ (14.21%). The influence of the quantity of filler PU / zeolite in tensile strength, elongation, and modulus of elasticity was found that the optimum concentration of filler is at 20%. Results of analysis of the morphology of nanocomposite polyurethane foam is homogenous and spread evenly. Results of XRD analysis of the natural zeolite is mordenite types.

Keywords: PPG, TDI, natural zeolite nanoparticles, mechanical analysis, FTIR analysis, and morphology analysis.