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Fly Ash as an Eco-Friendly Filler for Rigid Polyurethane Foams Modification.
Monika Kuźnia1, Anna Magiera1, Beata Zygmunt-Kowalska1
1Department of Heat Engineering and Environment Protection, Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30 Av., 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 13, 2021
Summary
This study enhanced rigid polyurethane foam insulation by adding fly ash and microspheres. Both fillers improved thermal and mechanical properties, offering better performance for insulation materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Growing demand for advanced thermal insulation materials with superior performance.
- Rigid polyurethane foam (PUF) is a widely used insulation material.
- Need for effective modifiers to enhance PUF properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of fly ash and microspheres on PUF structure and properties.
- Determine optimal filler concentrations for improved performance.
- Evaluate thermal, mechanical, and cellular structure changes.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of rigid polyurethane foam composites with varying filler content (5-20 wt.%).
- Characterization using thermal analysis, mechanical testing, and cellular structure investigation.
- Analysis of fly ash (coal combustion byproduct) and microspheres as modifiers.
Main Results:
- Addition of fly ash up to 10 wt.% significantly improved most tested parameters.
- Incorporation of microspheres up to 20 wt.% enhanced mechanical and thermal properties.
- Both fillers positively influenced the thermal stability of the rigid polyurethane foams.
Conclusions:
- Fly ash and microspheres are effective modifiers for rigid polyurethane foams.
- Optimized filler content can lead to superior thermal insulation materials.
- These modified PUFs show potential for applications requiring enhanced performance.
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