Rapeseed oil‐based polyurethane foams modified with glycerol and cellulose micro/nanocrystals

Abstract

A rapeseed oil-based polyol (ROPO) was synthesized using chemical modification of the rapeseed oil (RO) by epoxidation reaction followed by oxirane ring-opening with diethylene glycol. The ROPO was used in the formulation of low-density green polyurethane (PU) foams. The use of glycerol as hydroxyl component, water as a reactive blowing agent and micro/nanocellulose (MNC) as a reinforcement increases the content of natural components in the formulations with important effects on the final foam properties. The ROPO and their intermediate products are characterized by analytical techniques and FTIR spectroscopy, while the final PU foams are characterized by morphological and mechanical analysis. The results show that the addition of glycerol increases the modulus and yield stress. The incorporation of MNC in small amounts is enough to increase the modulus at low temperatures. Both modifiers cause an increase in water absorption and the fragility of the cell walls, reflected in the micrographs of the foams. V C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41602.

Improved specific thermomechanical properties of polyurethane nanocomposite foams based on castor oil and bacterial nanocellulose

“…Previous research has dealt with the effect of different nanoparticles on the thermomechanical properties of PUFs . However, most of it did not consider that the nanoparticles might change the isocyanate index (or NCO index) of the PUF due to the presence of additional reactive groups that compete to react with the isocyanate when added into the formulation.…”

“…Our research group has already published several articles regarding the synthesis and functionalization of BNC nanoparticles . As noticed by a recent review, the formulation of PUFs reinforced with CNC has been previously studied. On the other hand, so far, no publication has dealt with the incorporation of BNC in a PUF formulation.…”

Recent Advancement in Plant Oil Derived Polyol‐Based Polyurethane Foam for Future Perspective: A Review

“…Addition of acetone leads to an increase in compression strength whereas glycerine works as a chain extender, which helps for reducing foam shrinkage. Mosiewicki and co‐workers reported synthesis and characterization of PUF modified with cellulose nanocrystals. Addition of MNC into foaming mixture increases compression strength and glass transition temperature of the resulting foam significantly.…”

Structural characterization of a vegetable oil‐based polyol through liquid chromatography multistage mass spectrometry

“…With the exception of castor oil, nearly all vegetable oils lack hydroxyl groups; thus, they are relatively unreactive for producing PU. Typically, carbon–carbon double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids are epoxidized followed by the oxirane ring opening to form more reactive functional hydroxyl groups . Vegetable oil‐based polyols can also be prepared by transesterification of triglycerides with alcohols or by amidation with amines.…”

“…Typically, carbon-carbon double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids are epoxidized followed by the oxirane ring opening to form more reactive functional hydroxyl groups. [7][8][9] Vegetable oil-based polyols can also be prepared by transesterification of triglycerides with alcohols or by amidation with amines. In the transesterification and amidation products, alcohols and amines moieties provide the functionality, while the resulting fatty acid chains act as elastic and unreactive chains due to the absence of hydroxyl groups.…”