Composites Based on Polyurethane and Modified Petroleum Asphaltenes

In this work, polyurethane composites with petroleum asphaltenes and their modified derivatives have been obtained and studied. The changes in the mechanical and thermal characteristics of polyurethane composites depending on the content of asphaltene fillers in concentrations of 1 and 2.5 wt% are shown. The distribution of native and modified asphaltenes in the polymer matrix was assessed using the X‑ray power diffraction method. Composites with native asphaltenes and asphaltenes bearing amino groups showed the best performance in terms of distribution homogeneity in the matrix of polyurethane obtained from 2,4-toluylene diisocyanate (TDI) and polyethylene glycol adipate. It has been shown that the use of carboxylated (CA) and sulfonated (SA) asphaltenes in polyurethane composites leads to incomplete curing of the polymer. A significant decrease in the strength and elongation at break, as well as an increase in material hardness, was recorded for a composite containing 2.5 wt% of sulfonated asphaltene. The use of aminated asphaltenes makes it possible to increase the elongation at break due to additional interaction with TDI at the production of polyurethane composites. Composites with native and sulfonated asphaltenes showed the best thermal stability