Physical properties of flexible polyurethane waste as filler by difference preparation method

The production of flexible polyurethane (PU) waste as potential fillers relatively cheap can be introduced in the foam matrix. The flexible PU waste from the local industry initially soaks in the 0.05 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution as an alkaline cleaning agent and shieve to size 300nm, namely as flexible PU waste untreated. Next, the flexible PU waste filler treated was produced by different preparation treatments methods such as microwave and drying ovens. The physical properties of flexible PU waste filler treated and untreated were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), respectively. The morphology structure measurement gives significant changes of pore cell size of flexible PU waste filler. The increased time and temperature by different fabrication techniques may affect the physical surface PU filler. This is probably due to the higher reactivity of isocyanates with any compound having moving hydrogen for instance water. According to FTIR result, the mid-IR spectrum of microwave detected 3296 – 2866 cm−1 while drying oven is 3300 – 2970 cm−1 attributed of OH and NH functional group. TGA confirmed three thermal degradation zones between 110 ℃ and 230 ℃, indicating the degradation of non-reacted compounds and the presence of the drying oven and microwave due to water loss. It shows that the weight percentage loss for flexible PU waste filler treated by drying oven 98.821 % is more volatile than the weight percentage loss for flexible PU waste filler treated by drying oven 98.821 % is more volatile than microwave 98.681 %. This is due to the water was vaporize during the drying oven treatment. In a nutshell, the potential flexible PU waste filler treated by the drying oven is the best potential as compared to treated by microwave due to microwave processing method risk of overheating and burning the PU filler powder. This also proved that the treated by drying oven is an effective method with good wettability compared to the microwave oven. As a recommendation for the future, flexible PU waste filler treated by the drying method can be used as a composite filler due to the high elasticity of the bond resisting dynamic loading and resistance to increased moisture.