On the Damping Properties of a Polyurea Elastomer

The development of materials with high damping and energy absorption properties in the form of bulk materials or coatings is today a target for designing components and structures with improved durability and survivability to serve in fields such as aeronautical, mechanical, civil and environmental engineering. This paper presents the results of the dynamic mechanical characterization conducted on reinforced polyurea composites. The mechanical properties of two types of composite materials utilizing the polyurea elastomer as a matrix are compared with those of the pure polymer. The composite materials show a substantial increase of the damping ability. Such materials can be produced in the form of coatings and successfully applied for maximizing the damping of mechanical and structural vibrations or for limiting the damage effects of impact events on structures and components.