Comparison dielectric and thermal properties of polyurethane/organoclay nanocomposites

• The PU/organoclay composites was successfully obtained by mixing method from solution.
• The growth temperature does not exceed 60 °C in any step of the modification and drying.
• PU-IL-Mt modified with IL showed power alternative to PU-QAS-Mt modified with QAS.
• The PU composites exhibited better thermal stability and lower dielectric constants than the pure PU.

Polyurethane composites were obtained with different organoclay contents. The organoclay Na+-montmorillonite was dispersed in the PU matrix by mixing method from solution. Na+-montmorillonite was modified with dodecyl ammonium sulphate and 1-methyl-3-octyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate. The nanocomposites obtained by using different modifier were compared in terms of dielectric and thermal properties. The dispersion state of the organoclay particles and its effect on the thermogravimetric and dielectric properties of the composites was investigated. The characterization of PU/organooclay composites was carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. The dielectric properties of the PU/organoclay nanocomposites were studied in detail. The obtained PU/organoclay intercalated nanocomposites exhibited better thermal stability and improved lower dielectric constants than the pure PU.