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El Khezraji S, Thakur S, Raihane M, López-Manchado MA, Belachemi L, Verdejo R, Lahcini M. Use of Novel Non-Toxic Bismuth Catalyst for the Preparation of Flexible Polyurethane Foam. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13244460. [PMID: 34961011 PMCID: PMC8704569 DOI: 10.3390/polym13244460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Foam products are one of the largest markets for polyurethane (PU) and are heavily used in many sectors. However, current PU formulations use highly toxic and environmentally unfriendly production processes. Meanwhile, the increasing environmental concerns and regulations are intensifying the research into green and non-toxic products. In this study, we synthesized flexible polyurethane foam (PUF) using different weight percentages (0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%) of a non-toxic bismuth catalyst. The bismuth-catalyzed foams presented a well evolved cellular structure with an open cell morphology. The properties of the bismuth-catalyzed flexible PUF, such as the mechanical, morphological, kinetic and thermal behaviors, were optimized and compared with a conventional tin-catalyzed PUF. The bismuth-catalyst revealed a higher isocyanate conversion efficiency than the stannous octoate catalyst. When comparing samples with similar densities, the bismuth-catalyzed foams present better mechanical behavior than the tin-catalyzed sample with similar thermal stability. The high solubility of bismuth triflate in water, together with its high Lewis acidity, have been shown to benefit the production of PU foams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said El Khezraji
- IMED-Lab, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, Avenue Abdelkrim Elkhattabi, B.P. 549, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; (S.E.K.); (M.R.); (L.B.)
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Polimeros, ICTP-CSIC, C/Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (S.T.); (M.A.L.-M.)
| | - Suman Thakur
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Polimeros, ICTP-CSIC, C/Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (S.T.); (M.A.L.-M.)
| | - Mustapha Raihane
- IMED-Lab, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, Avenue Abdelkrim Elkhattabi, B.P. 549, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; (S.E.K.); (M.R.); (L.B.)
| | - Miguel Angel López-Manchado
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Polimeros, ICTP-CSIC, C/Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (S.T.); (M.A.L.-M.)
| | - Larbi Belachemi
- IMED-Lab, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, Avenue Abdelkrim Elkhattabi, B.P. 549, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; (S.E.K.); (M.R.); (L.B.)
| | - Raquel Verdejo
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Polimeros, ICTP-CSIC, C/Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (S.T.); (M.A.L.-M.)
- Correspondence: (R.V.); (M.L.)
| | - Mohammed Lahcini
- IMED-Lab, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, Avenue Abdelkrim Elkhattabi, B.P. 549, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; (S.E.K.); (M.R.); (L.B.)
- Chemical & Biochemical Sciences (CBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Lot 660, Hay Moulay Rachid, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
- Correspondence: (R.V.); (M.L.)
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Hejna A. Clays as Inhibitors of Polyurethane Foams' Flammability. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 14:4826. [PMID: 34500914 PMCID: PMC8432671 DOI: 10.3390/ma14174826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Polyurethanes are a very important group of polymers with an extensive range of applications in different branches of industry. In the form of foams, they are mainly used in bedding, furniture, building, construction, and automotive sectors. Due to human safety reasons, these applications require an appropriate level of flame retardance, often required by various law regulations. Nevertheless, without the proper modifications, polyurethane foams are easily ignitable, highly flammable, and generate an enormous amount of smoke during combustion. Therefore, proper modifications or additives should be introduced to reduce their flammability. Except for the most popular phosphorus-, halogen-, or nitrogen-containing flame retardants, promising results were noted for the application of clays. Due to their small particle size and flake-like shape, they induce a "labyrinth effect" inside the foam, resulting in the delay of decomposition onset, reduction of smoke generation, and inhibition of heat, gas, and mass transfer. Moreover, clays can be easily modified with different organic compounds or used along with conventional flame retardants. Such an approach may often result in the synergy effect, which provides the exceptional reduction of foams' flammability. This paper summarizes the literature reports related to the applications of clays in the reduction of polyurethane foams' flammability, either by their incorporation as a nanofiller or by preparation of coatings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksander Hejna
- Department of Polymer Technology, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
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Synthesis of Ethyl (Diethoxymethyl)phosphinate Derivatives and Their Flame Retardancy in Flexible Polyurethane Foam: Structure-flame Retardancy Relationships. Polym Degrad Stab 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2021.109557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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