Preparation, Mechanical and Thermal Insulation Properties of Graphene Oxide/Polydopamine/Polyurethane Foam-Based Tunnel Insulation Liner Material

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-24-2024

Department

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Abstract

This article designs a novel tunnel insulation liner material based on polyurethane foam (PUF), aiming to improve the liner material's mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, thermal insulation properties and to reduce the self-weight of the material. Firstly, PUF is self-made using a one-step method, and the optimal parameter combination is optimized through the single-parameter (SP) method. Secondly, based on the optimal parameter combination of PUF, a new process is employed to prepare polydopamine (PDA)/graphene oxide (GO)/PUF. Compression experiments and contact angle tests are conducted to assess the physical mechanical properties of PDA/GO/PUF. Infrared thermography and combustion experiments are employed to characterize the thermal insulation performance of PDA/GO/PUF. Microscopic mechanisms are explained through thermogravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that: the optimal parameter combination of tin(II) bis(2-ethylhexanoate) (TEH), water (H2O), and toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) content optimized by the SP method is 4 parts, 2.8 parts, and 19 parts. PUF prepared based on the optimal parameter combination exhibits a dense and uniform cell structure with low density. Under cyclic loading, PDA/GO/PUF composite material exhibits excellent mechanical stability and fatigue resistance; the hydrophobicity, thermal insulation, and thermal stability of PDA/GO/PUF are significantly improved compared to PUF.

Publication Title

Advanced Engineering Materials

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