1. Advanced Polymer and Nanomaterial Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, Assam, India;2. Leibniz‐Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V., Hohe Strasse 6, D‐01069 Dresden, Germany
Abstract:
Sunflower oil‐based HBTPU/Ag and LTPU/Ag nanocomposites have been prepared by in situ catalytic reduction of a silver salt. The virgin polymer and their nanocomposites are soluble in various polar organic solvents and amenable for both solution‐casting and hot pressing. XRD, TEM, and UV spectroscopic analyses ascertained well‐dispersed, narrow‐sized Ag nanoparticles. Tensile testing, dynamic mechanical, thermogravimetric, and DSC analyses showed desirable mechanical and thermal features with improvement upon incorporation of Ag nanoparticles and the presence of a hyperbranched component in the nanocomposites. RSM has been used to evaluate the catalytic efficacy of the nanocomposites.
