This article deals with the characterization of the thermal-induced aging of soft polyurethane (PU) foams. There are studied thermal and mechanical properties by means of thermal analysis, tensile, compression and dynamic mechanical vibration testing. It was found in this study, that the increasing relative humidity of the surrounding atmosphere leads to the initiation of the degradation processes. This is reflected in the observed decreased mechanical stiffness. It is attributed to the plasticization of the PU foams wall material. It is in agreement with the observed increase of the permanent deformation accompanied simultaneously with the decrease of Young's modulus of elasticity. The latter phenomenon is studied by the novel non-destructive forced oscillations vibration-damping testing, which is confirmed by observed lower mechanical stiffness thus indicating the loss of the elasticity induced by samples conditioning. In parallel, observed decreasing of the matrix hardness is confirming the loss of elastic mechanical performance as well. The effect of conditioning leads to the significant loss of the PU foam's thermal stability.

Department of Hydromechanics and Hydraulic Equipment Faculty of Mechanical Engineering VSB Technical University of Ostrava 17 listopadu 15 2172 Poruba 708 33 Ostrava Czech Republic

Department of Physical Chemistry Faculty of Science Palacky University Olomouc 17 Listopadu 12 771 46 Olomouc Czech Republic

Faculty of Technology Tomas Bata University in Zlin Nam TGM 275 760 01 Zlin Czech Republic

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Advanced Materials Structures for Sound and Vibration Damping