Structure and Properties of Sprayed Polyurethane Bio-Based Foams Produced Under Varying Fabrication Parameters.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• Polyurethane foams are vital insulation materials.
• There is a growing need for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based feedstocks.
• Tall oil polyol offers a renewable option for polyurethane foam production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of mixing pressure and substrate temperature on tall oil-based polyurethane foams.
• To correlate processing parameters with material structure and properties.
• To assess the potential of these foams as environmentally friendly insulation solutions.

Main Methods:

• Spray polyurethane foam synthesis using 80% tall oil polyol.
• Systematic variation of mixing pressure (12.5-17.5 MPa) and substrate temperature (40-55 °C).
• Characterization of cellular structure, thermal conductivity, physico-mechanical performance, and thermal behavior.

Main Results:

• Increased mixing pressure and substrate temperature reduced pore diameter and enhanced structural homogeneity.
• Closed-cell content reached up to 94.5%, improving insulation.
• Thermal conductivity ranged from 18.55 to 22.30 mW·m^-1·K^-1; compressive strength varied with processing conditions.

Conclusions:

• Optimized processing parameters yield high-quality, sustainable polyurethane foams.
• Tall oil-based foams demonstrate excellent structural and thermal insulation properties.
• These materials present a viable eco-friendly alternative for insulation applications.