Effect of ultrasound sonication in carbon nanofibers/polyurethane foam composite

Doping of nanoparticles into the polymer can tailor its mechanical properties. Mixing of the nanoparticles with the polymer is the most critical issue there. Better mixing between these two can provide higher strength and stiffness whereas poor mixing is seen to decrease those properties. Ultrasound sonication is one of the promising approaches to disperse the nanoparticles into the base material thoroughly. But process parameters and base materials properties affect this mixing process. In this study the effects of different process parameters of sonication technique for the doping of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) into rigid polyurethane (PU) foam have been investigated. Quasi-static compression tests were performed on nanophased PU foam that has been manufactured in different ways and compressive yield strength is taken as the comparative parameter. It is observed that the favorable sonication is achieved for part A of the foam. Sonication has an optimum time limit which varies with sonicator power, wt% of nanoparticles and foam amount.