Open cell semi-rigid polyurethane foams synthesized using palm oil-based polyol

NORMA E. MARCOVICH; M. KURANSKA; A. PROCIAK; E. MALEWSKA; K. KULPA

Industrial Crops and Products

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017 vol. 102 p. 88 - 96

0926-6690

Semi-rigid polyurethane foams were successfully prepared by blending up to 70 wt.% of a palm oil-basedbio-polyol with a petrochemical polyether polyol. Due to the high viscosity of the bio-polyol derivedfrom palm oil, polyol premixes were heated before mixing with an isocyanate component. Despite this,a slowdown in the foaming and gelling reactions was detected as the content of the palm oil-basedbio-polyol in the formulation increased. The thermal conductivity of the modified foams was higherthan that of the reference one, even when they exhibited a lower apparent density. In addition, theirmechanical and dynamic mechanical properties decreased as the palm oil-based polyol content in thefinal foams increased. These effects are attributed to the foams? cellular structure since the closed cellcontent decreased as the amount of the petrochemical polyol replaced by the bio-polyol increased. However,the water absorption decreased as the bio-polyol concentration in the polyurethane formulationincreased and the modified foams exhibited excellent dimensional stability Taking into account potentialapplications of polyurethane systems, the formulation containing 30 wt.% of the bio-polyol could be usedin the preparation of a new generation open cell semi-rigid foams permeable to moisture and with highercontent of biomass-derived constituents.