Furanic Rigid Foams, Furanic-Based Bioplastics and Furanic-Derived Wood Adhesives and Bioadhesives

In this chapter, we discuss pure furanic foams and tannin-furanic foams as fire-resistant, environmentally friendly, rigid biofoams. We also examine furanic wood adhesives in which a major furan portion is coupled with either synthetics or bioadhesives. In the case of furanic wood bioadhesives, the formulations developed were 90–100% biosourced. Equally, furanic rigid plastics of considerable mechanical resistance have also been developed and applied to angle-grinder discs and automotive brakes with very encouraging results.

Study of The Spatio-Chemical Heterogeneity of Tannin-Furanic Foams: From 1D FTIR Spectroscopy to 3D FTIR Micro-Computed Tomography

Tannin-furanic rigid foams are bio-based copolymers of tannin plant extract and furfuryl alcohol, promising candidates to replace synthetic insulation foams, as for example polyurethanes and phenolics, in eco-sustainable buildings thanks to their functional properties, such as lightness of the material and fire resistance. Despite their relevance as environmental-friendly alternatives to petroleum derivatives, many aspects of the polymerization chemistry still remain unclear. One of the open issues is on the spatial heterogeneity of the foam, i.e., whether the foam constituents prevalently polymerize in spatially segregated blocks or distribute almost homogenously in the foam volume. To address this matter, here we propose a multiscale FTIR study encompassing 1D FTIR spectroscopy, 2D FTIR imaging and 3D FTIR micro-tomography (FTIR-μCT) on tannin-furanic rigid foams obtained by varying the synthesis parameters in a controlled way. Thanks to the implementation of the acquisition and processing pipeline of FTIR-μCT, we were able for the first time to demonstrate that the polymer formulations influence the spatial organization of the foam at the microscale and, at the same time, prove the reliability of FTIR-μCT data by comparing 2D FTIR images and the projection of the 3D chemical images on the same plane.

Preparation and performance of melamine-formaldehyde rigid foams with high closed cell content

Melamine-formaldehyde (MF)rigid foams with high closed cell content were prepared via oven heating process, using MF prepolymer prepared from melamine and paraformaldehyde as a matrix, cyclohexane as the foaming agent, dimethyl silicon oil as the foam stabilizers, hydrochloric acid as the catalyst. The effect of MF prepolymer viscosity, foaming temperature, amount of catalyst on morphology, closed cell content, apparent density, water absorption and compressive strength of MF rigid foams were systematically studied. The optimized foaming conditions are as follows: the viscosity of MF prepolymer ranges from 35 Pa·s to 45 Pa·s, the foaming temperature is 125°C and the content of the catalyst is 0.65 wt%. The as-prepared MF foams showed the best comprehensive performance with closed cell content of 83.5%, apparent density of 62 kg·m−3, water absorption of 12.0%, compressive strength of 292kPa, thermal conductivity of 0.033 W m−1 K−1 and limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 36%. Compared to conventional organic foams, MF rigid foams possess low water absorption, excellent thermal insulation and flame retardancy due to high closed cell content, and can be expected to be used as thermal insulation material for building exterior walls.

Melamine-formaldehyde rigid foams – Manufacturing and their thermal insulation properties

The manufacturing of novel melamine-formaldehyde rigid foam material, by blowing the melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin emulsion with pentane and further catalytic and thermal curing, is presented in this work. The process of foaming is described in terms of particular process parameters, which are; the proportions of blowing, curing, emulsifying agents. The examination of the foam, by SEM images, shows that the foam pore sizes are in the range from 150 to 250 µm. The thermal characterization of the obtained foams, is described in terms of thermal conductivity contributions of solid, gas and radiation conduction to total thermal conductivity at atmospheric and vacuum condition. The foam with densities from 50 to 80 kg/m3 achieve thermal conductivity at an atmospheric pressure of 33–34 mW/(m × K), while in a vacuum of 6–7 mW/(m × K). Compared to other organic polymer foams, MF foams have superior fire resistance and chemical stability. The innovation of MF rigid foams presented here, compared to other well-known MF flexible foam, is in their rigid structure, combined with low density and thermal conductivity, which makes this particular foam potentially useful in the manufacture of vacuum insulation panels (VIP).

Effect of flame retardants on mechanical and thermal properties of bio-based polyurethane rigid foams

A vegetable oil-based polyurethane rigid foam containing a phosphorus–nitrogen dualflame retardant system was prepared, and the foam exhibited not only excellent flame retardant properties but also good mechanical properties.

Characterization and structural properties of bamboo fibre solid foams

In this work, cellulose fibres extracted from bamboo culms were used to fabricate two types of cellular materials: rigid foams and fibrous networks. A relatively simple and low-technology fabrication method is presented, using natural binders and blowing agents to manufacture rigid foams, and fibrillation by partial hydrolysis in H2SO4 to manufacture fibrous networks. The compressive response is related to the internal microstructure and processing parameters. In the case of fibrous networks, the achievable relative density range is determined by the length of initial fibres and extent of external fibrillation. The compressive properties are dictated both by the density of the network and strength of the fibrous bridges, showing a linear stiffness-density relationship due to the length of fibres, and an inverse relationship at increased external fibrillation. The rigid foams showed an orthotropic internal microstructure but nearly isotropic compressive response, due to the influence of the interpenetrating void structure on the deformation and fracture mechanisms. The results show the potential of bamboo-fibre porous materials as low cost, lightweight structural materials.