Optimization of Exothermic, Foaming, and Mechanical Properties of Modified Polyurethane as Filling Material for Goaf Sealing Wall

Goaf sealing wall is set in the roadway close to the stop line of working face in an underground coal mine. However, the sealing wall is prone to crack or fracture under serious mining stress, resulting in water and air leakage from goaf. In this study, the combination of polymethylene polyphenyl polyisocyanate (PAPI) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) as component A and polyether polyols, catalysts, surfactants, chain extenders, and plasticizers as component B were investigated to optimize the exothermic, foaming, and mechanical properties of modified polyurethane (PU) as the filling material for goaf sealing wall. Firstly, the reaction temperature of specimens with different contents of polyether polyols was monitored using a dynamic acquisition system; secondly, the effect of polyether polyols, catalysts, and surfactants on foaming property was studied; then, uniaxial compression tests were developed to obtain compressive behavior; finally, the microstructure after uniaxial compression was observed by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicate that the pure chemical slurry is superior to the combination of chemical slurry and sand in compressive strength and deformation behavior. The optimal mass ratio of polyether triols, polyether tetraols, catalysts, surfactants, chain extenders, and plasticizers is 11 : 9 : 1.0 : 0.5 : 1.2: 6 in component B due to the maximum reaction temperature of 121.4°C, the expansion ratio of 2.6, and the compressive strength of 7.97 MPa at the strain of 10% in this study. The research provides a solution for the construction of the sealing wall, which is of great significance to safety production in an underground coal mine.