Scale-Up and Testing of Polyurethane Bio-Foams as Potential Cryogenic Insulation Materials

This article compares the properties of closed-cell PUR bio-foams produced on a laboratory scale and on an industrial scale. In the formulation used, the polyol premix contained 40 wt.% of a bio-polyol based on rapeseed oil. Selected useful properties of the foams obtained on the two scales and the use of one-step and spraying methods were compared. In the case of the spraying method, the experimental system was compared to a commercial one. Given the possibility of applying the bio-foams in insulation systems for cryogenic and liquefied natural gas (LNG) applications, a compressive strength analysis of the foams was carried out at room temperature as well as at -196 °C. It was found that the foams modified with the bio-polyol were characterized by a higher compressive strength at low temperatures than commercial foams based on a petrochemical polyol.