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

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Traditional polyurethanes rely on unsustainable, oil-based feedstocks.
• Renewable resources offer potential but often yield polyurethanes with inferior properties.
• Partial replacement of oil-based precursors is a strategy to balance sustainability and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a biomass-derived succinic-based polyol.
• To produce fully sustainable rigid polyurethane foams by blending succinic-based and cardanol-based polyols, completely replacing oil-based polyols.
• To evaluate the properties of these novel sustainable polyurethane foams.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of a succinic-based polyol from biomass.
• Blending of succinic-based and cardanol-based polyols with poly-methylene diphenyl di-isocyanate, water, catalysts, and surfactant.
• Characterization using FTIR for cross-linking, SEM for morphology, and TGA/thermal conductivity for thermal properties.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized a succinic-based polyol from a renewable biomass source.
• Produced rigid polyurethane foams with a total replacement of oil-based polyols using a blend of succinic-based and cardanol-based polyols.
• Characterization confirmed successful cross-linking, evaluated foam morphology, and assessed thermal degradation and insulation properties.

Conclusions:

• Sustainable rigid polyurethane foams can be produced by completely replacing oil-based polyols with a blend of biomass-derived succinic-based and cardanol-based polyols.
• This approach achieves a balance between environmental sustainability and the required technological performance for various applications.
• The developed foams demonstrate potential as eco-friendly alternatives in the polymer industry.