Preparation of low temperature resistant slow rebound polyurethane foams with reduced flammability based on modified graphene oxide supported nanosilica

Abstract

A slow rebound polyurethane foam (SPUF) with enhanced flammability retardancy by incorporating KH-907 modified graphene oxide-supported nano-silica (SiO₂@GO-KH-907), in conjunction with silicone-modified polyether (Si-APEG) as a low-temperature resistance agent. The structures of SiO₂@GO-KH-907 were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results showed that KH-907 was chemically bonded with GO, and the SiO₂ particles were uniformly dispersed on GO layers. The influence of SiO₂@GO-KH-907 on the foam’s structural, mechanical, thermal, and flame-retardant properties was systematically investigated. During the foaming process, SiO₂@GO-KH-907 acted as an efficient cell nucleating agent, reducing the cell size and narrowing size distribution. When the SiO₂@GO-KH-907 content reached 2%, the foam demonstrated enhanced tensile strength and toughness, along with improved thermal stability and flame retardancy, while maintaining its low-temperature resistance properties. These findings suggest that the incorporation of SiO₂@GO-KH-907 represents a promising approach for developing multifunctional polyurethane foams with superior performance characteristics.

Graphical Abstract