Effects of ultrasonic dispersion on nanoparticle based polyurethane foam reinforcement

Abstract

Using an appropriate mixing method for synthesizing nanoparticle based polyurethane foam is crucial because nanoparticles are very cohesive, which hinder their uniform dispersion. In this study, ultrasonic dispersion (UD) was adopted to enhance the dispersion of nanoparticles in a polyurethane foam (PUF) containing a silica aerogel and glass bubbles (SG-PUF), which is a new candidate material for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. Scanning electron microscopy was used to elucidate the effects of UD treatment. The results of comprehensive parametric investigation show that the mechanical and thermal characteristics of SG-PUF were significantly improved by UD treatment. Moreover, it has been revealed that UD can be used as a practical method to improve the volumetric efficiency in LNG carrier cargo containment systems.