Abstract:
A Polyurethane based aerospace structural material has been synthesized and investigated / interpreted through advanced characterization techniques i.e Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy (ATRIR ), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy( FTIR ), Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis ( DMTA ) and SEM Methods. Several approaches were adopted and applied to create the end capping into this Polyurethane as per requirement. The end capping technology was implemented and identified by the partial reaction between the hard block ( NCO ) and soft block (OH ) which was indicated by NH-stretching peak at 3400 cm-1 together with the un reacted hard block. Moreover FTIR has also revealed that our end capped compound is polyester based.
Dynamical Mechanical Thermal Analyzer clearly reveals the increased extent of micro phase segregation between the Polyurethane building blocks as evidenced by the higher value of Loss Tangent. Furthermore, many experiments were conducted to produce inter penetrating polymer network ( IPN ) using Polymed ( UK ) bi-component Urethane elastomer. The IPNs are novel blends of network and linear polymers of two or more polymer networks that are held together with prominent resistance to gross phase separation such as a consequence of stable or permanent chain entanglements or catenation than by establishment of mutual covalent bond i.e by grafting of one polymer. Unique Mechanical and Molecular features are identified which are beneficial for end use applications and have been recorded within the body of the thesis.
The synthesized structural material has been implemented in production sequence with reproduced properties. Composite propulsion parts have been fabricated and subsequently successfully tested to intended specifications using the above mentioned new technology.
