Solvent‐blown, rigid urethane foams from low cost castor oil‐polyol mixtures

Abstract

The preparation of solvent‐blown rigid urethane foams from low cost castor oil‐polyol mixtures was investigated. Solutions of triisopropanolamine, and of mixtures of triisopropanolamine and triethanolamine in castor oil, were used as the polyol component of these foams. Foams were prepared by reacting these polyol mixtures, in the presence of catalyst, surfactant, and trichlorofluoromethane, with prepolymers prepared from toluenediisocyanate and certain polyether polyols or mixtures of these polyether polyols with castor oil. The effect of polyol and prepolymer composition and blowing agent concentration on such foam properties as density and compressive strength was investigated. The properties of the castor oil‐based foams were comparable to those of foams obtained from more costly polyols.

Foam stability and polymer phase morphology of flexible polyurethane foams synthesized from castor oil

“…A brief survey of the literature on polyurethane foam synthesis from castor oil follows. Some early reports indicate the use of castor oil in making thermally insulating rigid polyurethane foams . Castor oil modified with maleic anhydride was used to synthesize biodegradable foams .…”

Kinetics of Reaction of Castor Oil Trimethylol Propane Polyol and 4,4′ Diphenyl Methane Diisocyanate

“…The disadvantages of castor oil include: low hydroxyl number leading to low modulus material sluggish rate of curing of secondary hydroxyl groups [9], and structural irregularity due to steric hindrances offered by the long pendant fatty acid chains during polyurethane formation, resulting in low tear strength [17]. To offset these disadvantages, castor oil is either mixed with other polymers to form interpenetrating networks [18][19][20][21] or transesterified or alcoholyzed with polyhydroxy alcohols, most commonly by glycerol and trimethylol propane [22][23][24]. Although a lot of work has been done on castor oil-based polyurethane, little work has been reported on castor oil=trimethylol propane transesterified products and their use for polyurethane production.…”

Bio-based Polyols and Polyurethanes

“…By adding triisopropanolamine to the PU formulation, castor oil-based rigid PU foams showed increased compressive strength [95]. By adding triisopropanolamine to the PU formulation, castor oil-based rigid PU foams showed increased compressive strength [95].…”