Recent Developments in Polyurethane Foams Containing Low-Cost and Pro-Ecological Modifiers

Abstract

Abstract. Diversity of the polyurethane (PU) foams applications cause that investigation of the relationships between their structure and properties is currently very popular topic among the many research institutions and companies. At the turn of the last years many scientific papers about PU foams and their composites were published. The one of the main research trends in this field is related to the reduction of production costs of PU foams. This aim can be successfully achieved through the incorporation of raw materials of natural origin or the utilization of waste materials. This work reviews the progress and recent developments in area of PU foams containing low-cost and pro-ecological modifiers, such as crude glycerol, liquefied biomass, ground tire rubber, etc.

Investigation of Thermoplastic Polyurethanes Synthesized via Two Different Prepolymers

“…The growing demand for plastics, including polyurethanes, and the associated increasing pollution of the natural environment, have contributed to take the necessary steps to solve global environmental problems. To reduce carbon dioxide emission, new technology is being developed that uses materials from renewable or recycled resources, as much as possible, instead of materials obtained directly from crude oil [1][2][3]. The stricter legal regulations regarding the limitation of the use of disposable plastics, as well as the increased interest of the public in the protection of the natural environment, cause that the chemical industry is looking for new solutions based on natural origin raw materials [4,5].…”