%0 Journal Article
%T Investigation on mechanical properties of polyurethane hybrid nanocomposite foams reinforced with roselle fibers and silica nanoparticles
%A A. Soundhar
%A A. U. M. Shah
%A K. Jayakrishna
%A M. Rajesh
%A M. T. H. Sultan
%J Nanocomposites
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1080/20550324.2018.1562614
%X Abstract The aim of this research work is to determine the mechanical, morphological and thermal properties of spherical silica (silica-A), amorphous silica (silica-B) and Roselle fiber (RF) reinforced polyurethane (PU) hybrid nanocomposites. The PU nanocomposites were fabricated with different weight percentages, 0.50 to 1£¿wt% for silica-A and silica-B, while 1¨C2£¿wt% for RF. These experiments were systematically designed and analyzed by response surface methodology in a central composite design approach. As per the design of the experiments, the hybrid PU nanocomposites were prepared by using a one shot process. The mathematical models developed to predict the results obtained were in good coherence with the experimental results, and were within 95% confidence levels for tensile and flexural strength. The optimum weight percentage of Roselle, silica-A and silica-B were 2, 0.78 and 1%, respectively. The optimized environmentally friendly hybrid nanocomposite demonstrated exceptional mechanical and thermal properties. Graphical Abstrac
%U https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20550324.2018.1562614