Functionalization via glycerol transesterification of polymerized soybean oil

Polyurethane foams from vegetable oil-based polyols: a review

Polyurethane is a versatile material that can be converted into various forms according to applications. PU foams or PUFs are the most commonly used polyurethanes. These are materials of low density and low thermal conductivity that make them highly suitable for thermal insulating applications. Most of the synthesis of PUFs is still based on the petrochemical industry. There are issues associated with the oil industry, such as environmental pollution, sustainability, and market instability. More recently, we have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic which has destroyed the global supply chain of raw materials. Such sudden disruption of the supply chain affects the global economy. To eliminate the reliance on special ingredients, it is important to find and produce alternate and domestic raw materials. Vegetable oils are organic, cost-effective, and economically viable and present in abundant amounts. The oil consists of triglycerides. It can be functionalized to provide polyol for PU foam synthesis. Herein, we review the literature on factors influencing the properties of PUFs depending on polyols from vegetable oil as well as present a glimpse of the conversion of vegetable oils into polyols for PUF synthesis.

Flexible polyurethane foams modified with natural oil based polyols

Polyols based on natural oils can be used in formulations of various polyurethane materials including foams with the cell structure and properties required for their typical applications. Vegetable oils such as rapeseed and palm oils were used as raw materials for preparing flexible polyurethane foams. The reference polyurethane systems were elaborated on the basis of petrochemical polyols. These formulations were modified with rapeseed and palm oil based polyols. The effects of such modifications on selected physical–mechanical properties of prepared foams are discussed. The application of both vegetable oil based polyols allowed to obtain the foams with higher ability for energy absorbing and better thermal stability.

Isocyanate Reduction by Epoxide Substitution of Alcohols for Polyurethane Bioelastomer Synthesis

A phosphate ester-forming reaction was carried out by mixing epoxidized soybean oil with up to 1.5%o-phosphoric acid.In situoligomerization took effect almost instantly producing a clear, homogeneous, highly viscous, and a low-acid product with a high average functionality. The resulting epoxide was used as a reactant for urethane bioelastomer synthesis and evaluated for rigid foam formulation. Results have shown that with a number of catalysts tested phosphoric acid significantly enhances a solvent-free oxirane ring cleavage and polymerization of the epoxidized soybean oil via phosphate-ester formation at room temperature. The resulting phosphoric acid-catalyzed epoxide-based bioelastomer showed an 80% decrease in extractable content and increased tensile strength at the same isocyanate loading relative to the noncatalyzed epoxide. The oligomerized epoxidized soybean oil materials exhibited ASTM hydroxyl values 40% less than the nonoligomerized starting material which translates to reduced isocyanate loadings in urethane applications.