Study on the preparation and performance of SiC nanoparticle reinforced polyurethane coatings

Polyurethane (PU) coatings display several advantages such as easy construction, adjustability, and excellent mechanical properties, and therefore have potential applications in the coating of rocket engines and warheads. However, mechanical strength, high ductility and thermal stability are often difficult properties to combine, which has become a key limitation in efforts toward developing PU coatings for these applications. In this paper, a fast-curing PU film was developed by reacting between polytetrahydrofuran and diphenylmethane 4,4'-diisocyanate. The mechanical strengthening effect of SiC nanoparticles on the film was studied and compared with other common fillers, including TiO₂, XFM13. The results revealed that SiC nanoparticles substantially increased the mechanical properties in PU coating, increasing the material's tensile strength and elongation at break to 34.14 MPa and 434% respectively. In addition, the inclusion of SiC nanoparticles generally improved the thermal stability and low temperature resistance of PU film. The results generated in this research has established a foundation for the application of PU materials in fields requiring high performance properties, such as rocket engines coatings and warhead manufacture.