scholarly journals Synthesis, Characterization and Mechanical Properties of Novel Bio-Based Polyurethane Foams Using Cellulose-Derived Polyol for Chain Extension and Cellulose Citrate as a Thickener Additive

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 2802
Author(s):  
Loredana Maiuolo ◽  
Fabrizio Olivito ◽  
Vincenzo Algieri ◽  
Paola Costanzo ◽  
Antonio Jiritano ◽  
...  

A novel series of bio-based polyurethane composite foams was prepared, employing a cellulose-derived polyol for chain extension and cellulose-citrate as a thickener additive. The utilized polyol was obtained from the reduction reaction of cellulose-derived bio-oil through the use of sodium borohydride and iodine. Primarily, we produced both rigid and flexible polyurethane foams through chain extension of the prepolymers. Secondly, we investigated the role of cellulose citrate as a polyurethane additive to improve the mechanical properties of the realized composite materials. The products were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and their morphologies were analysed by SEM. Mechanical tests were evaluated to open new perspectives towards different applications.

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3474
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Uram ◽  
Milena Leszczyńska ◽  
Aleksander Prociak ◽  
Anna Czajka ◽  
Michał Gloc ◽  
...  

Rigid polyurethane foams were obtained using two types of renewable raw materials: bio-polyols and a cellulose filler (ARBOCEL® P 4000 X, JRS Rettenmaier, Rosenberg, Germany). A polyurethane system containing 40 wt.% of rapeseed oil-based polyols was modified with the cellulose filler in amounts of 1, 2, and 3 php (per hundred polyols). The cellulose was incorporated into the polyol premix as filler dispersion in a petrochemical polyol made using calenders. The cellulose filler was examined in terms of the degree of crystallinity using the powder X-ray diffraction PXRD -and the presence of bonds by means of the fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FT-IR. It was found that the addition of the cellulose filler increased the number of cells in the foams in both cross-sections—parallel and perpendicular to the direction of the foam growth—while reducing the sizes of those cells. Additionally, the foams had closed cell contents of more than 90% and initial thermal conductivity coefficients of 24.8 mW/m∙K. The insulation materials were dimensionally stable, especially at temperatures close to 0 °C, which qualifies them for use as insulation at low temperatures.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026248932198897
Author(s):  
Serife Akkoyun ◽  
Meral Akkoyun

The aim of this work is the fabrication of electrically insulating composite rigid polyurethane foams with improved thermal conductivity. Therefore, this study is focused on the effect of aluminum nitride (AlN) on the thermal and electrical conductivities of rigid polyurethane foams. For this purpose, aluminum nitride/rigid polyurethane composite foams were prepared using a three-step procedure. The electrical and thermal conductivities of the foams were characterized. The thermal transitions, mechanical properties and morphology of the foams were also examined. The results reveal that AlN induces an increase of the thermal conductivity of rigid polyurethane foam of 24% which seems to be a relatively noticeable increase in polymeric foams. The low electrical conductivity of the foams is preserved.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
Hong Yang ◽  
Mingyu Gao ◽  
Jinxin Wang ◽  
Hongbo Mu ◽  
Dawei Qi

In the absence of high-quality hardwood timber resources, we have gradually turned our attention from natural forests to planted fast-growing forests. However, fast-growing tree timber in general has defects such as low wood density, loose texture, and poor mechanical properties. Therefore, improving the performance of wood through efficient and rapid technological processes and increasing the utilization of inferior wood is a good way to extend the use of wood. Densification of wood increases the strength of low-density wood and extends the range of applications for wood and wood-derived products. In this paper, the effects of ultrasonic and vacuum pretreatment on the properties of high-performance wood were explored by combining sonication, vacuum impregnation, chemical softening, and thermomechanical treatments to densify the wood; then, the changes in the chemical composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of poplar wood before and after treatment were analyzed comparatively by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and mechanical tests. The results showed that with ultrasonic pretreatment and vacuum impregnation, the compression ratio of high-performance wood reached its highest level and the MOR and MOE reached their maximums. With the help of this method, fast-growing softwoods can be easily prepared into dense wood materials, and it is hoped that this new material can be applied in the fields of construction, aviation, and automobile manufacturing.


2021 ◽  
pp. 026248932110172
Author(s):  
Fukai Yang ◽  
Miao Xie ◽  
Zhang Yudi ◽  
Xinyu Xu

We report flexible polyurethane foams (PUFs) containing –OH functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different diameters (10–20 nm, 20–30 nm, >50 nm) from 0.1–0.6 wt% (per 100 resins of polyol by weight) prepared via in situ polymerization. After synthesis, the morphology of the MWCNT/PUF composites was observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) based on MWCNT amount. The MWCNTs acted as nucleating agents and increased the matrix viscosity. The pore size of the composites decreased and the number of pores increased with increasing MWCNT concentration. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that the storage modulus of the composites increased, the loss modulus decreased, and the Tg gradually decreased with increasing MWCNT content. The incorporation of MWCNTs induced remarkable thermal stabilization of the matrix. The increase in the degradation temperature from 294°C to 304°C resulted in a 50% weight loss. The mechanical properties of the MWCNT/PUF materials increased with increasing MWCNT proportion because of the excellent compatibility and strong interface interaction between the MWCNT and flexible PUF.


2013 ◽  
Vol 315 ◽  
pp. 861-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kanna Subramaniyan ◽  
Shahruddin Mahzan ◽  
Mohd Imran bin Ghazali ◽  
Maznan Ismon ◽  
Ahmad Mujahid Ahmad Zaidi

In the present work polyurethane foams containing various content loadings of kenaf fiber and recycled tire rubber particulates were prepared and studied, with the objective of developing alternative composite rigid foams. The influence of the filler content on the foam microstructure and its physical and mechanical behavior has been studied for three different polyurethane resin densities. Microstructural observation on fracture surface of composites was carried out using scanning electron microscopy. It has shown closed spherical cells with reduced size when the fillers are added. Nevertheless, the incorporation of kenaf fiber and recycled tire rubber particulates that refined at 80 mesh led to higher mechanical properties than that unfilled polyurethane foam. A 6% filler content loading exhibited the optimum compression stress and compression modulus, while further increase of filler content loading resulted in decline in mechanical behavior. The presence of larger filler content deteriorated the polyurethane system cellular structure and lead to poor composites strength. Overall, the use of kenaf fiber and recycled tire rubber particulates gives composite foams with comparable mechanical behavior for the studied filler reinforcement level.


2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Rampf ◽  
Olga Speck ◽  
Thomas Speck ◽  
Rolf H Luchsinger

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4757
Author(s):  
Karolina Miedzińska ◽  
Sylwia Członka ◽  
Anna Strąkowska ◽  
Krzysztof Strzelec

In the following study, ground plum stones and silanized ground plum stones were used as natural fillers for novel polyurethane (PUR) composite foams. The impact of 1, 2, and 5 wt.% of fillers on the cellular structure, foaming parameters, and mechanical, thermomechanical, and thermal properties of produced foams were assessed. The results showed that the silanization process leads to acquiring fillers with a smoother surface compared to unmodified filler. The results also showed that the morphology of the obtained materials is affected by the type and content of filler. Moreover, the modified PUR foams showed improved properties. For example, compared with the reference foam (PUR_REF), the foam with the addition of 1 wt.% of unmodified plum filler showed better mechanical properties, such as higher compressive strength (~8% improvement) and better flexural strength (~6% improvement). The addition of silanized plum filler improved the thermal stability and hydrophobic character of PUR foams. This work shows the relationship between the mechanical, thermal, and application properties of the obtained PUR composites depending on the modification of the filler used during synthesis.


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