Study on Properties of Regenerated Fluorinated Polyurethane Rigid Foam Prepared by Degrading Waste Polyurethane

Abstract

Polyurethane (PU) has become one of the most widely used materials in the industrial field due to its excellent performance and wide range of applications. The increasing consumption of polyurethane materials has resulted in significant polyurethane waste. We can recycle waste polyurethane to obtain recycled polyurethane, but to make the recycled polyurethane meet different performance requirements in terms of utility and cost and enable the recycled polyether polyol to be further applied to high-end applications, it is necessary to improve the use value of recycled polyether polyol. In this paper, self-made Fluorodiol was added to the degradation process of waste polyurethane to obtain fluorinated regenerated polyether polyol. Recycled fluorinated polyurethane with excellent performance was prepared using fluorine-containing recycled polyether polyol. The regenerated fluorinated polyether polyols were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, viscosity, hydroxyl value, and GPC molecular weight distribution. The density, apparent morphology, water absorption, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, and thermal stability of RFPU rigid foams with different fluorine contents were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that when the addition of Fluorodiol was 8% of the mass of waste polyurethane, the density was 41.2 kg/m3, the immersion loss rate was 2.125%, the compressive strength was 0.315 Mpa, and the thermal conductivity was 0.0227 W/m·K. The RFPU prepared by Fluorodiol has low surface energy, good compressive strength, hydrolysis resistance, and is expected to be widely used in special insulation materials. Thus, the sustainable recycling of polyurethane is achieved.

Recycling of polyurethanes: where we are and where we are going

“…Zhang and co-workers 142 prepared a series of fluorinated polyurethane rigid foams using fluorine-containing recycled polyols obtained from the degradation of waste polyurethane foams. The glycolysis reaction was carried out at 200 °C for 2 h, in the presence of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and a fluorodiol synthesized on purpose.…”

Advancing Sustainable Energy Solutions: Innovations in Clean Energy Applications and Conventional Energy Efficiency Upgrade

“…Emerging challenges in clean energy require innovative solutions that also offer significant opportunities for technological advancement and environmental sustainability. Zhang et al [20] propose a method for regenerating waste polyurethane into high-performance materials, contributing to waste management and resource efficiency. Djamari et al [21] explore developments in diesel engine technology, focusing on the optimization of spray patterns to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency.…”