Adaptive Energy Absorption Behavior of Polyurethane Foam Impregnated with MWCNT-Based Shear Thickening Fluid
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55981/jsmi.2026.15818Keywords:
polyurethane foam, shear thickening fluid, impact energy absorption, composite structure, materialAbstract
Polyurethane foam (PF) is widely used as an energy-absorbing material. However, its structural performance degrades under high-energy impact loading. This study aims to enhance the dynamic impact response of PF by impregnation with a polyethylene glycol (PEG)–SiO₂-based shear thickening fluid (STF) reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of different diameters including 8–15 nm, 10–30 nm, and 20–40 nm. The STF containing 30 wt.% SiO₂ and 1.2 wt.% MWCNTs was impregnated into porous PF and evaluated through systematic drop-impact tests using masses of 200–1200 g and drop heights of 1.0–1.5 m. Maximum force, impact period, impulse, and force–time responses were analyzed and supported by SEM–EDS characterization. The results show that STF–MWCNT impregnation effectively modifies the impact response of PF by enhancing load redistribution and controlling force transmission. The system with 20–40 nm MWCNTs exhibits the most effective energy dissipation at high impact energies. A more compact and homogeneous cellular structure supports structural integrity under dynamic loading, indicating the suitability of the proposed foam system for impact-mitigation structural applications.
Downloads
References
[1] A. Andoko, R. Prasetya, M. Ismail, R. A. Vidyanto, P. Puspitasari, dan M. S. B. Mustapa, “Enhanced Impact Resistance of Polyurethane Foam Composites Reinforced with Shear Thickening Fluids and Multi Wall Carbon Nanotubes,” Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2025, doi: 10.1007/s13369-025-10407-3.
[2] S. Chen, S. Lei, J. Zhu, dan T. Zhang, “The Influence of Microstructure on Sound Absorption of Polyurethane Foams through Numerical Simulation,” Macromolecular Theory and Simulations, vol. 30, no. 5, 2021, doi: 10.1002/mats.202000075.
[3] P. Bartczak dkk., “Closed-cell polyurethane spray foam obtained with novel TiO2–ZnO hybrid fillers – mechanical, insulating properties and microbial purity,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 65, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.105760.
[4] X. Su, L. Zhou, L. Jing, G. Deng, dan L. Zhao, “Dynamic compressive mechanical properties and constitutive models of flexible polyurethane foam,” Baozha Yu Chongji/Explosion and Shock Waves, vol. 42, no. 9, 2022, doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2022-0201.
[5] Y. Yuan, W. Lin, Y. Xiao, B. Yu, dan W. Wang, “Advancements in Flame-Retardant Systems for Rigid Polyurethane Foam,” Molecules, vol. 28, no. 22, 2023, doi: 10.3390/molecules28227549.
[6] D. J. Lovell, M. L. Kerman, R. C. Allen, dan J. W. Liddle, “The effect of temperature on the dynamic impact characteristics of energy absorbing materials,” Journal of Cellular Plastics, vol. 40, no. 4, hlm. 267–275, 2004, doi: 10.1177/0021955X04045185.
[7] Y. Xiang dkk., “Effect of Hydrophobic Modification of Parylene C Film on Moisture Barrier of Polyurethane Foam,” Zhongguo Biaomian Gongcheng/China Surface Engineering, vol. 36, no. 3, hlm. 52–64, 2023, doi: 10.11933/j.issn.1007-9289.20220731001.
[8] P. Kaewpradit, A. Kongchoo, P. Chonlathan, N. Lehman, dan E. Kalkornsurapranee, “Impact responses of an open-cell natural rubber foam impregnated with shear thickening fluid,” SPE Polymers, vol. 2, no. 3, hlm. 217–223, 2021, doi: 10.1002/pls2.10052.
[9] C. Guo dkk., “Ballistic Impact Performance of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene With Multiphase Shear Thickening Fluids Impregnation and Hybrid Configuration,” Polymer Composites, vol. 46, no. 15, hlm. 14538–14554, 2025, doi: 10.1002/pc.70439.
[10] D. Barros, C. Mota, J. Bessa, F. Cunha, N. Oliveira, dan R. Fangueiro, “Study of the Absorption Energy of Auxetic Structures with Non-Newtonian Fluids,” Materials, vol. 18, no. 6, 2025, doi: 10.3390/ma18061263.
[11] E. E. Haro dkk., “Ballistic impact performance of hybrid composite armors made of aluminum foam containing the dispersion of shear thickening fluid made of various synthetic nano-fillers,” Composites Part C: Open Access, vol. 12, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jcomc.2023.100420.
[12] S. Astaraki dkk., “Enhanced rheological performance of shear thickening fluids: effects of graphene oxide nanoplatelets and clay nanoparticles,” Colloid and Polymer Science, vol. 303, no. 5, hlm. 907–921, 2025, doi: 10.1007/s00396-025-05392-w.
[13] M. Zhao, J. Zhang, Z. Peng, dan J. Zhang, “Shear thickening characteristics and mechanism of nano-SiO2/polyethylene glycol composite system,” Fuhe Cailiao Xuebao/Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica, vol. 39, no. 4, hlm. 1725–1738, 2022, doi: 10.13801/j.cnki.fhclxb.20210702.004.
[14] J. Yu dkk., “The effects of MWCNT-STF on the impact resistance of fibre metal laminates,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 205, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.tws.2024.112516.
[15] B. Han, Y. Wang, Y. Zheng, Y. Tao, dan X. Liu, “Influence of multi-walled carbon nanotube content on electromagnetic wave absorption and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube/polyamide 12 composite,” Polymer Composites, vol. 43, no. 11, hlm. 7739–7750, 2022, doi: 10.1002/pc.26873.
[16] Z. Zheng dkk., “Fabrication of carbon nanotubes/Cu composites with orthotropic mechanical and tribological properties,” Materials Science and Engineering: A, vol. 804, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2021.140788.
[17] G. Zhao, X. Zhang, W. Qiang, dan X. Zhang, “Enhancing the interlaminar toughness and impact resistance of CFRP using MWCNTs and core-shell rubber synergistic strategy,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 212, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.tws.2025.113146.
[18] L. Zeng, R. Li, dan Y. Chen, “Experimental and simulational study on tensile mechanical property of carbon nanotubes/epoxy resin composite,” Fuhe Cailiao Xuebao/Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica, vol. 41, no. 6, hlm. 2909–2922, 2024, doi: 10.13801/j.cnki.fhclxb.20231024.001.
[19] R. B. N. Branco, K. Oyama, dan N. Yamamoto, “Effects of Magnetic Alignment and CNT Agglomeration on Reinforcing Fracture Toughness of Polymers,” dipresentasikan pada Proceedings of the American Society for Composites - 37th Technical Conference, ASC 2022, 2022. [Daring]. Tersedia pada: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85139557069&partnerID=40&md5=25f9783c9adf248a8f8e551423206e45
[20] D.-Z. Liu, X. Cheng, H. Liu, H.-T. Shen, Z.-S. Hua, dan S.-W. He, “Improved energy absorption capacity of closed-cell aluminium foams by electroplating,” Surface Engineering, vol. 38, no. 2, hlm. 166–173, 2022, doi: 10.1080/02670844.2022.2067949.
[21] X. Fan, X. Guan, M. Zhang, Y. Liu, dan Y. Li, “Aqueous foam synergistically stabilized by the composite of lignin nanoparticles and surfactant,” Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, vol. 643, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128727.
[22] N. Iqbal, A. Mubashar, S. Ahmad, N. Arif, dan E. Ud Din, “Improving mechanical properties and ballistic limit of polyurethane foam cores in sandwich panels through multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforcement,” Jnl of Sandwich Structures & Materials, vol. 27, no. 6, hlm. 1220–1239, Sep 2025, doi: 10.1177/10996362251336644.
[23] P. Ravindran, K. M. Kumar, S. Rangasamy, dan K. R. V. Kumar, “Plain Kevlar and a CNT-reinforced Kevlar epoxy polymer composite: Comparative study of its mechanical, low velocity and ballistic impact properties,” Iranian Polymer Journal (English Edition), vol. 32, no. 2, hlm. 239–249, 2023, doi: 10.1007/s13726-022-01122-z.
[24] Z. Huang, M. Wei, F. Zhu, W. Gu, dan J. Chen, “Effect of MWCNT on CFRP impregnated with shear thickening fluids under high strain rate impact,” Journal of Industrial Textiles, vol. 53, 2023, doi: 10.1177/15280837231193432.
[25] S. Luo, M. Wei, L. Sun, X. Yu, dan W. Gu, “High-strain-rate Response of GFRP Composites Impregnated with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Shear Thickening Fluid,” Applied Composite Materials, vol. 30, no. 5, hlm. 1477–1492, 2023, doi: 10.1007/s10443-023-10131-x.
[26] M. C. Das, A. Athijayamani, K. A. V. Geethan, D. Santhosh, dan S. P. Singh, “Effects of length and content of natural cellulose fiber on the mechanical behaviors of phenol formaldehyde composites,” dipresentasikan pada Materials Today: Proceedings, 2021, hlm. 516–521. doi: 10.1016/j.matpr.2020.02.111.
[27] Y.-C. Li, K.-J. Tang, F.-L. Jin, dan S.-J. Park, “Enhanced thermal stability and impact strength of phenolic formaldehyde resin using acid-treated basalt scales,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, vol. 139, no. 37, 2022, doi: 10.1002/app.52827.
[28] M. R. Sheikhi, M. Hasanzadeh, dan S. Gürgen, “The role of conductive fillers on the rheological behavior and electrical conductivity of multi-functional shear thickening fluids (M-STFs),” Advanced Powder Technology, vol. 34, no. 8, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.apt.2023.104086.
[29] R. Wang, Y. Zhou, Q. Wang, R. Sun, X. Jia, dan M. Tian, “THE INFLUENCE OF CARBON NANOTUBE ADDITION ON THE SHEAR-THICKENING PERFORMANCE OF SUSPENSIONS,” Thermal Science, vol. 27, no. 3, hlm. 1787–1793, 2023, doi: 10.2298/TSCI2303787W.
[30] C. Guo, Y. Zhang, L. Chang, T. Chen, J. Gan, dan Z. Cai, “Research on ballistic properties of UHMWPE hybrid laminates impregnated with shear thickening fluid,” Materials Letters, vol. 372, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.matlet.2024.137055.
[31] P. Zhu, J. Rong, R. Liu, dan S. Wang, “One‐dimensional theoretical analysis of polymethacrylimide foam sandwich structures subjected to underwater explosion impact using a dynamic shock wave model,” Polymer Composites, vol. 46, no. S3, Okt 2025, doi: 10.1002/pc.29970.
[32] H. M. Allujami dkk., “Mechanical properties of concrete containing recycle concrete aggregates and multi-walled carbon nanotubes under static and dynamic stresses,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 17, hlm. e01651, Des 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01651.
[33] B. Kanagaraj, N. Anand, E. Lubloy, dan D. Andrushia A, “Influence of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) on flexural behavior and microstructure characteristics of geopolymer concrete beams,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 20, hlm. e03317, Jul 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03317.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Madina Ismail, Andoko, Riduwan Prasetya, Revita Putri Permatasari
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
