Glycols in polyurethane foam formulations with a starch–oil composite

A dry starch–oil composite was blended with each of three glycols; ethylene, polyethylene, and propylene, and then reacted with isocyanate to produce polyurethane foams. The liquid glycols permitted the dry composite to blend well with the other ingredients in the foam formulations. Infrared spectra confirmed the presence of urethane structures in the composite–glycol foams. Polyethylene glycol provided a slightly less dense foam than the other glycols in the composite–glycol products. Microscopy showed a greater number of larger cells in the composite–polyurethane glycol foams. Infrared spectra indicated essentially no qualitative differences in the composite–glycol foams with the three glycols. By prestaining starch with toluidene blue and oil with sudan red, the location of the starch and oil components of the milled composite were observed in the composite–propylene glycol foam. Intact flakes of the composite were observed in the foam. An apparent loss of mobility of oil in the composite–polyurethane foam, as evidenced by NMR analysis, is probably due to crosslinking by isocyanate diffusing into the flakes. Both the cell structure and uniformity of blending were improved by using these glycols rather than the polyester polyol described previously. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 957–964, 1998. Published 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Hydrophilic foams containing corn products for horticultural use

Polyurethane foams containing equal amounts of commercial unmodified cornstarch and a polyisocyanate-terminated polyether exhibit properties suitable for horticultural applications. The use of cornstarch in the foam formulation increased the volume by one-fourth as compared to the foam without cornstarch. This volume increase represents an economic advantage of 20% savings based on material cost. When cornstarch or corn flour is added to the foam formulation, the foams are more resistant to compressive force. Upon wetting and draining, the foams prepared with no auxiliary blowing agent and containing corn products exhibit higher volumes than do the unfilled foams. Radish seeds planted inside 25 mm cubes of foams began to sprout after 1 day. Early developmental growth for the plants was similar in the control and cornstarch-filled foams. Spectroscopic analyses of the starch-containing foams revealed that 60–70% of the cornstarch was metabolized within 4–5 weeks by a microbial consortium. Control polyurethane foams were not affected by the microorganisms tested. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

1 This article is a U.S. Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

基于天然多糖的共混型可降解聚氨酯泡沫塑料研究

以微晶纤维素(MCC)和淀粉(ST)两种天然多糖为填料,制备了共混型硬质和半硬质可降解聚氨酯泡沫塑料(PUF),利用材料试验机研究了其力学性能,通过土壤掩埋和需氧堆肥化两种手段研究了其降解性能。结果表明,MCC和ST可以以较大比例与聚氨酯进行共混,在硬质PUF(RPUF)中的质量分数可达23.3%,在半硬质PUF(SRPUF)中的质量分数可达20.0%;随着填料用量的增加,RPUF的压缩弹性模量和强度有一定提高,但冲击强度下降较大,SRPUF在保持其断裂伸长率基本不变的同时其拉伸强度有一定提高;随着填料用量的增加或降解时间的延长,PUF的生物降解程度提高;ST填充试样的力学和生物降解性能优于MCC填充试样。     

Polyurethane Composite Foams in High-Performance Applications: A Review

Polyurethane foam is a polymeric material having cellular structure. Multifunctional polyurethane foams reinforced with nanofiller have combined enhanced specific properties with density reduction. This article primarily considers important aspects of various foam processing techniques. Numerous nanofillers such as graphite, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon black, carbon nanotube, nanoclay, and inorganic nanoparticle have been reinforced in polyurethane foam. Particular attention is given to various categories of polymer/carbon nanofiller and polymer/inorganic nanofiller composite foams. Applications of polyurethane composite foams have been focused with relevance to aerospace and automotive industry, radar absorbing and electromagnetic interference shielding, oil absorbants, sensors, fire proof, shape memory, and biomedical materials.     

聚氨酯/三聚氰胺甲醛树脂复合泡沫热降解动力学研究

三聚氰胺甲醛树脂脱水后和多元醇混合,然后用异氰酸酯与混合物进行交联反应,生成聚氨酯/三聚氰胺甲醛树脂复合泡沫.热重分析结果表明,复合泡沫失重分为3个阶段,二苯基甲烷二异氰酸酯(MDI)型三聚氰胺甲醛树脂复合泡沫的第2阶段的失重峰温比甲苯二异氰酸酯(TDI)型三聚氰胺甲醛树脂复合泡沫的高.采用Kissinger法研究了该...     

Rigid urethane foams from hydroxymethylated linseed oil and polyol esters

Rigid urethane foams were prepared from hydroxymethylated linseed oil and its esters of glycerol, trimethylolpropane and pentaerythritol. These polyols were made by selective hydroformylation with a rhodium-triphenylphosphine catalyst followed by catalytic hydrogenation with Raney nickel. Although the hydroxymethylated linseed monoglyceride by itself yielded a satisfactory foam, better foams were made from all hydroxymethylated linseed derivatives when blended with a low-molecular weight commercial polyol. Linseed-derived foams were compared with foams from equivalent formulations of hydroxymethylated monoolein and castor oil. Hydroxymethylated products yielded polyurethane foams meeting the requirements of commercial products with respect to density, compressive strength and dimensional stability. National Flaxseed Processors Association Fellow. N. Market. Nutr. Res. Div., ARS, USDA.     

Preparation and properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/carbon/polystyrene composites

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/C/polystyrene (PS) composite materials were prepared by in situ polymerization of monomer in preformed MWCNT/C foams. MWCNT/C foams were preformed using polyurethane foam as template. The preformed MWCNT/C foams had a more continuous conductive structure than the carbon nanotube networks formed by free assembly in composites. The structure of the MWCNT/C foam network was characterized with scanning electron microscopy. The MWCNT/C/PS composites have an electric conductivity higher than 0.01 S/cm for a filler loading of 1 wt.%. Enhancement of thermal conductivity and mechanical properties by the preformed MWCNT/C foam were also observed.     

Water-blown flexible polyurethane foam extended with biomass materials

Soy protein isolate, soy fiber, and cornstarch (0–40% polyether polyol) were incorporated into a flexible polyurethane foam formulation. Stress–strain curves of the control foam and foams containing 10–20% biomass material exhibit a considerable plateau stress region but not for foams extended with 30–40% biomass materials. An increase in biomass material percentage increases foam density. An increase in initial water content decreases foam density. Foams extended with 30% soy protein isolate, as well as foams extended with 30% soy fiber, have notably greater resilience values than all other extended foams. The comfort factor increases with increasing percentage of biomass material in foam formulation. Foams containing 10–40% biomass materials display significantly lower values in compression-set than the control foam. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65: 695–703, 1997     

Water-absorbing polyurethane foams from liquefied starch

Water-absorbing polyurethane foams were prepared from liquefied starch polyols and diphenylmathane diisocyanate (MDI) by using a cell-opening foaming surfactant. The liquefied starch polyols were obtained by the liquefactions of starch in the presence of polyethylene glycol-dominant reaction reagents by using sulfuric acid as a catalyst under either a refluxing condition or a reduced-pressure condition. The influences of the liquefaction conditions on the properties of the liquefied starch polyols were investigated, taking into account the requirements for preparing appropriate polyurethane foam. Feasible formulations for the preparation of the water-absorbing foams were proposed and the properties of the foams obtained were investigated. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Water-blown rigid and flexible polyurethane foams containing epoxidized soybean oil triglycerides

Both rigid and flexible water-blown polyurethane foams were made by replacing 0–50% of Voranol® 490 for rigid foams and Voranol® 4701 for flexible foams in the B-side of foam formulation by epoxidized soybean oil. For rigid water-blown polyurethane foams, density, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity were measured. Although there were no significant changes in density, compressive strength decreased and thermal conductivity decreased first and then increased with increasing epoxidized soybean oil. For flexible water-blown polyurethane foams, density, 50% compression force deflection, 50% constant force deflection, and resilience of foams were measured. Density decreased first and then increased, no changes in 50% compression force deflection first and then increased, increasing 50% constant force deflection, and decreasing resilience with increase in epoxidized soybean oil. It appears that up to 20% of Voranol® 490 could be replaced by epoxidized soybean oil in rigid polyurethane foams. When replacing up to 20% of Voranol® 4701 by epoxidized soybean oil in flexible polyurethane foams, density and 50% compression deflection properties were similar or better than control, but resilience and 50% constant deflection compression properties were inferior. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Development of a rigid polyurethane foam from palm oil

The reactions between polymeric diphenyl methane diisocyanate (polymeric MDI) and conventional polyols to produce foamed polyurethane products are well documented and published. Current polyurethane foams are predominantly produced from these reactions whereby the polyol components are usually obtained from petrochemical processes. This article describes a new development in polyurethane foam technology whereby a renewable source of polyol derived from refined–bleached–deodorized (RBD) palm oil is used to produce polyurethane foams. Using very basic foam formulation, rigid polyurethane foams were produced with carbon dioxide as the blowing agent generated from the reaction between excess polymeric MDI with water. The foams produced from this derivatized RBD palm oil have densities in excess of 200 kg/m³ and with compression strengths greater than 1 MPa. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68: 509–515, 1998     

蒸馏水含量对三明治结构硬质聚氨酯泡沫性能的影响

采用异氰酸酯、聚酯多元醇、发泡剂（水）等原料通过一体发泡成型技术制备出一种新型的三明治泡沫夹心复合材料。利用热重分析、扫描电子显微镜等对不同水含量（质量分数分别为0、0.5 %和1.0 %）的硬质聚氨酯泡沫材料的泡孔直径、密度、热导率、压缩性能、三点弯曲和热力学性能等做了研究,进而确定提高硬质聚氨酯性能的最佳工艺。结果表明,随着水含量的增加,硬质聚氨酯泡沫材料泡孔直径增大,密度变小,热导率降低,保温性能提高,而压缩性能和三点弯曲却呈下降趋势;综合考虑硬质聚氨酯泡沫材料泡孔结构和良好的保温隔热及弯曲等力学性能,其最佳含水量为0.5 %。     

Biodegradable polyurethane foam from liquefied waste paper and its thermal stability,biodegradability, and genotoxicity

Liquefaction of waste paper (WP) was conducted in the presence of polyhydric alcohols to prepare biodegradable polyurethane foam. The liquefied‐WP‐based polyol had suitable characteristics such as apparent molecular weight, hydroxyl value, and viscosity for the preparation of rigid polyurethane foam and was successfully applied to produce polyurethane foam with the appropriate combinations of foaming agents. The obtained foams showed satisfactory densities and mechanical properties as good as those of foams obtained from liquefied wood‐ and starch‐based polyols. The foams had almost the same thermal stability at initial weight loss and seemed to be potentially biodegradable because they were degraded to some extent in leaf mold. There were no mutagens or carcinogens in the water extracts of the foams. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1482–1489, 2002     

匀泡剂对硬质聚氨酯泡沫孔径及冲击性能的影响

通过改变配方中匀泡剂的用量，制备了一系列具有相同密度的硬质聚氨酯泡沫塑料(RPUF)。使用二维图像分析方法对其孔径进行了表征，结果显示其孔径分布在210～624μm范围。研究了冲击性能与孔径之间的关系，发现材料的冲击强度随孔径增大呈线性下降的趋势，同时其脆性增大而韧性降低。     

Investigation and Development of Epoxy Foams

The development of low toxicity rigid epoxy foams as an alternative to polyurethane foams for electronics encapsulation is described. The basic foam components - epoxy resin, hardener, accelerator, blowing agent and surfactant - are blended to form a two part system which is mixed and foamed when required. Each foam component is selected for its contribution to the foaming reaction and the final foam properties. The balance of component miscibility, viscosity, reaction rate and exotherm determine foam quality. Foam properties are affected by (1) density (2) cell structure and (3) the molecular structure of the reactants. Initial foam development utilised epoxy/amine chemistry and produced two foams, Feldex F3 and F4. Subsequently, use of a more reactive polymercaptan hardener improved foam strength and process times, resulting in Feldex F5 and F6 which have been used successfully to prepare quality mouldings and encapsulated electronics. Recently, development has been extended to new areas of application, e.g. high temperature foams. The mechanical, electrical, thermal and chemical properties of the best epoxy foams have been evaluated; selected results are reported. The epoxy foams developed offer low density, high strength, low dielectric constant and loss tangent, high volume resistivity, good thermal insulation, low corrosivity and low toxicity. In addition, epoxy foams soften in acetone, an advantage over their polyurethane counterparts since encapsulated electronics may be retrieved without employing corrosive solvents. (Feldex is a registered trade mark of THORN EMI Electronics.)     

Effect of foam density,oil viscosity,and temperature on oil sorption behavior of polyurethane

This paper examines the effect of foam density, oil viscosity, and temperature on the oil sorption behavior of polyurethane foams. Four polyurethane foams with different densities and two oil types with different viscosities were investigated. The amount of oil uptake was measured gravimetrically. Oil transport through the foams was analyzed by nondestructive X‐ray microtomography. Oil sorption capacity increased significantly with the decrease in foam density, due to the increase in the number of open cells. The oil sorption capacity depended only slightly on sorption temperature and oil viscosity. X‐ray visualization allowed pore filling behavior to be observed directly, and further scope to extend the technique is revealed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 360–367, 2006     

Reticulated vitreous carbon from polyurethane foam-clay composites

Reticulated vitreous carbon foams were prepared by carbonizing polyurethane precursor foams which were first infused with furfuryl alcohol. The cell size and the fraction of open cells of the precursor foam were controlled by the addition of clay in the polyurethane foam formulation. Addition of clay permitted control of the cell size of carbon foams. The higher open cell content in foams with clay permitted uniform infusion of furfuryl alcohol in the precursor, and thus more uniform carbon foams of higher density. These foams had a lower electrical resistance as compared to foams without clay.     

Preparation and characterization of kaolin/starch foam

The objective of this work was to study the effect of the kaolin content on the properties of starch foams. The kaolin/starch foams were made with kaolin contents that ranged from 0 to 15 m% by baking in a hot mold. The starch and kaolin/starch foams were stored at room temperature with a relative humidity (RH) of 55% for 7 days prior to testing. An increase in the kaolin content increased the foam density. The izod impact strength increased up to 1151.37 J/m² at the highest kaolin content (15 m%). The improvement was about five times the izod impact strength of pure starch foam. Moreover, the presence of any kaolin reduced the water absorption ability of the starch foam. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that kaolin increased the size of the starch foam cells and was itself well dispersed. Kaolin/starch foams showed a higher thermal stability than pure starch foam.     

Investigation on flammability of rigid polyurethane foam‐mineral fillers composite

This study investigates the incorporation of castor oil–based rigid polyurethane foam with mineral fillers feldspar or kaolinite clay in order to enhance the mechanical, thermal, and flame retardant properties. Influence of mineral fillers on the mechanical strength was characterized by compressive strength and flexural strength measurement. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed to diagnose the changes in thermal properties, while cone calorimeter test was performed to ascertain the flame retardancy of the mineral filler–incorporated rigid polyurethane foam composites. Results showed that the foams incorporated with mineral filler demonstrated up to 182% increase in compressive strength and 351% increase in flexural strength. Thermal stability of these composite foams was also found to be enhanced on the incorporation of kaolinite clay filler with an increase in 5% weight loss temperature (T_5%) from 192°C to 260°C. Furthermore, peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR), smoke production rate (SPR), and total smoke release (TSR) were also found to decreased on the incorporation of mineral filler in the rigid polyurethane foam. So mineral fillers are ascertained as a potential filler to enhance the mechanical, thermal, and flame retardant behaviors of bio‐based rigid polyurethane foam composites.     

Glass bubble reinforced polyurethane foams with high mechanical strength for cryogenic temperature insulation

In this study, glass bubble (GB) is added to polyurethane (PU) foams at different weight ratios—0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 wt% —to investigate the changes in the mechanical and thermal properties of the foam. By conducting several tests and measurements, the density, cell morphology, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity of the foam are studied. In particular, the effect of GB additives is examined by conducting compression tests at various temperatures (−163, −100, −40, and 20°C). Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microscope reveal that the foams exhibit higher stability below 0.5 wt%, which improves the thermal performance. On the other hand, the compressive strength of the foams increases for all weight ratios of GB, and it increases sharply at 0.75 wt%. In addition, the chemical interactions and the dispersion of additives in the PU matrix are investigated through Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffractions analysis. It is found that the synthesis of PU foams with GB nanoparticles is an efficient method for improving the mechanical properties and insulation performance of the foam for LNG insulation technology.