Abstract

Physical properties of polyurethane (PU) can be modified for desired applications by adding appropriate fillers. In this work, cobalt (Co) powder of average diameter 2 μm was filled in PU elastomers synthesized by a reaction between polyol and diisocyanate. Variation of Co loading (0, 20,40 and 60 wt.%) modified thermal properties of PU composites in terms of the shift in a melting temperature and the increase in heat absorption. From DC hysteresis loops, PU/Co composites exhibited ferromagnetic properties with improved magnetizations by the increase in Co loading. On the other hand, the coercive field was almost unvaried. For high frequency electromagnetic behaviors, the complex electrical permittivity (ε′-jε″') and magnetic permeability (μ′-jμ″) were sensitive to the frequency from 10 MHz up to 100 MHz and reached the modest values in the regime between 100 MHz and 1 GHz. At each frequency, the real part of permeability and permittivity of PU were raised by the inclusion of Co fillers. While the thermal behaviors were explained using the interaction between Co clusters and the PU matrix, the electromagnetic properties can be understood by taking into the account of interactions between Co clusters at high loading levels. © Freund Publishing House Ltd.