Upgrading Sustainable Polyurethane Foam Based on Greener Polyols: Succinic-Based Polyol and Mannich-Based Polyol

Abstract

It is well known that the traditional synthetic polymers, such as Polyurethane foams, require raw materials that are not fully sustainable and are based on oil-feedstocks. For this reason, renewable resources such as biomass, polysaccharides and proteins are still recognized as one of the most promising approaches for substituting oil-based raw materials (mainly polyols). However, polyurethanes from renewable sources exhibit poor physical and functional performances. For this reason, the best technological solution is the production of polyurethane materials obtained through a partial replacement of the oil-based polyurethane precursors. This approach enables a good balance between the need to improve the sustainability of the polymer and the need to achieve suitable performances, to fulfill the technological requirements for specific applications. In this paper, a succinic-based polyol sample (obtained from biomass source) was synthesized, characterized and blended with cardanol-based polyol (Mannich-based polyol) to produce sustainable rigid polyurethane foams in which the oil-based polyol is totally replaced. A suitable amount of catalysts and surfactant, water as blowing reagent and poly-methylene diphenyl di-isocyanate as isocyanate source were used for the polyurethane synthesis. The resulting foams were characterized by means of infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to control the cross-linking reactions, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate the morphological structure and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermal conductivity to evaluate thermal degradation behavior and thermal insulation properties.

Fully Renewable Non‐Isocyanate Polyurethanes via the Lossen Rearrangement

“…[ 16 ] Thus, it is obvious that the development of milder and more sustainable synthetic routes toward PUs has become of great interest by many research groups. [ 17–25 ]…”

Development and Characterization of Tailored Polyurethane Foams for Shock Absorption

“…Ghasemlou et al studied the biosynthetic pathways for synthesizing cyclic carbonates and non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) [12]. Luca Bossa et al prepared Mannich-based polyol for hard foams [13] and the promotion of a homogeneous dispersion of fillers within the polymer matrix [14]. Ghasemlou et al used synergistic interactions to fabricate transparent and mechanically robust nanohybrids based on starch, non-isocyanate polyurethanes, and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) for the development of sustainable, high-performance materials [15].…”

Production of Rigid Polyurethane Foams Using Polyol from Liquefied Oil Palm Biomass: Variation of Isocyanate Indexes

“…The free carbonyl (C=O) peak (1720 cm −1 ) of urethanes shown in the EFBPUFs spectrum represents the interaction between hard segments (urethanes) and soft segments (ethers or esters of the polyol), whereas the H-bonded C=O peak (1705 cm −1 ) represents the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between hard segments (inter-urethane H-bonding) [6]. From the result, the peak intensity of 1705 cm −1 increased as the NCO index was increased from 110 to 120 (Figure 6d,e), forming a blunt peak (1720 and 1705 cm −1 ), implying that more H-bonded C=O was formed.…”

“…Increasing awareness on the depletion of non-renewable resources has triggered efforts for development of polyols and PUs from renewable and sustainable materials. Presently, lignocellulose biomass, protein, and plant-derived oils are utilized to partially substitute or/and replace petro-chemical-based polyols [5][6][7]. Lignocellulosic materials, such as industrial crops biomass and timber wastes, are abundant, cheap, and sustainable resources.…”