A study on coconut fatty acid diethanolamide-based polyurethane foams.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Polyurethane (PU) foams are widely used but rely on fossil-based polyols.
• Developing bio-based alternatives is crucial for sustainability.
• Coconut fatty acid diethanolamide (p-CFAD) is a potential bio-based polyol derived from coconut oil.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the use of p-CFAD as a bio-based polyol for synthesizing polyurethane foams.
• To investigate the auto-catalytic effect and structural properties of p-CFAD.
• To evaluate the performance of PU foams incorporating p-CFAD.

Main Methods:

• Chemical characterization using H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR).
• Rheological measurements to assess flow behavior.
• Thermal conductivity tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for material analysis.

Main Results:

• p-CFAD demonstrated auto-catalytic effects, shortening cream and gelation times.
• PU foams with 40wt% p-CFAD substitution achieved thermal conductivity comparable to commercial rigid PU foam.
• Increased p-CFAD content led to a transition from rigid to soft PU foam properties and altered cellular structure.

Conclusions:

• p-CFAD is a feasible bio-based polyol for high-performance polyurethane foam development.
• The incorporation of p-CFAD allows for regulation of foam properties and cellular structure.
• This research supports the creation of sustainable and tunable polyurethane materials.