Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of Soybean Oil-Based Polyurethane

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Polyurethane (PU) is widely used across industries, driving demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based feedstocks.
• Bio-based raw materials offer a renewable pathway for PU synthesis, aligning with environmental goals.
• Epoxy soybean oil (ESO) presents a promising bio-based precursor for developing novel polyols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize soybean oil-based polyurethane (SPU) using epoxy soybean oil (ESO) and polyethylene glycol (PEG-600).
• To investigate the influence of the molar ratio of isocyanate to hydroxyl groups (R value) and film-forming temperature on SPU properties.
• To characterize the structure and properties of the synthesized SPU films.

Main Methods:

• Soybean oil-based polyester polyols were prepared via ring-opening of ESO with PEG-600.
• SPU was synthesized by reacting the polyols with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI).
• Characterization involved FT-IR, 1H NMR, GPC, SEM, TGA, and DSC.

Main Results:

• Increased R value and film-forming temperature led to enhanced mechanical strength, water contact angle, microphase separation, barrier properties, and thermal stability.
• Transparency, oxygen permeability, and moisture permeability coefficients decreased with higher R values and film-forming temperatures.
• The study successfully demonstrated the tunability of SPU properties through controlled synthesis parameters.

Conclusions:

• Soybean oil-based polyurethane is a viable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional PU.
• Adjusting R value and film-forming temperature allows for tailored SPU properties for specific applications.
• This research contributes to sustainable polymer development by utilizing renewable resources.