Damping and Mechanical Properties of THUV‐328/DZ/TPU Composites: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Dynamic components in extreme‐cold environments require elastomeric materials with a low glass transition temperature (Tg) and a low loss factor. However, conventional thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)‐based damping materials generally fail to simultaneously achieve low‐temperature toughness and low damping. This study presents a ternary composite based on polyether‐based TPU incorporating the ultraviolet absorber THUV‐328 and the small‐molecule additive N,N ‐dicyclohexyl‐2‐benzothiazolsulfene amide (DZ). Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the three components exhibit favorable compatibility through van der Waals forces and electrostatic interactions, which lower the fractional free volume. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) indicates that THUV‐328 significantly affects the damping performance across different TPU/DZ ratios, with the loss factor varying between 0.20 and 0.34. By regulating the contents of THUV‐328 and DZ, low‐damping materials suitable for −40 to −5 °C are prepared. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirm that DZ and the TPU matrix are only physically miscible. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals that DZ particles are dispersed in the matrix at low concentrations. Tensile tests show that the elastic modulus increases with DZ mass ratio at low strain under fixed THUV‐328 content. THUV‐328 addition significantly improves the plasticity of the composites.