Characterization of the surface and mechanical behavior of polyurethane microporous films doped with silver nanoparticles
AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) concentration on surface of polyurethane microporous films. The Ag-NPs have a diameter between 1.74-10 nm and were synthesized in the polymer matrix. The effects of Ag-NPs at the surface of polyurethane (PU) microporous films were investigated by means of attenuated total reflection Fourier infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements. The mechanical behavior of PU films vs Ag-NPs concentration was also studied. The Ag-NPs induce changes in the PU surface structure, wettability properties, topography and mechanical properties. These phenomena may be due to interactions between Ag-NPs and urethane groups which form new structure urethane-silver-urethane with a specific morphology and the nanostructuring of the surface by means of metallic nanoparticles.