The biodegradable cellulose-derived polyol and polyurethane foam

The method of polyol synthesis from cellulose, glycidol, and ethylene carbonate in water was elaborated. The obtained polyol was characterized by IR, 1H NMR and MALDI ToF spectroscopy. The polyol was then used to obtain rigid polyurethane foam. That foam have apparent density, water uptake, and polymerization shrinkage similar to conventional rigid polyurethane foams. The foam showed advantageous thermal resistance in comparison with classic ones. After thermal exposure its compressive strength was improved. The polyol is totally biodegradable in soil. The polyurethane foam obtained from this polyol was 70–80% biodegraded in soil within 28 days

Polyols and Polyurethane Foams Obtained from Mixture of Metasilicic Acid and Cellulose

Hydroxyalkylation of the mixture of metasilicic acid and cellulose with glycidol and ethylene carbonate leads to a polyol suitable to obtain rigid polyurethane foams. The composition, structure, and physical properties of the polyol were studied in detail. The obtained foams have apparent density, water absorption, and polymerization shrinkage, as well as heat conduction coefficients similar to conventional, rigid polyurethane foams. The polyols and foams obtained from environmentally unobtrusive substrates are easily biodegradable. Additionally, the obtained foams have high thermal resistance and are self-extinguishing. Thermal exposure of the foams leads to an increase of the compressive strength of the material and further reduces their flammability, which renders them suitable for use as heat insulating materials

Multifunctional oligoetherols and polyurethane foams with carbazole ring

A new method of preparation of multifunctional oligoetherols containing carbazole ring is presented. The oligoetherols were obtained in the reaction of 9-(2,3-epoxypropyl)carbazole with sorbitol and oxiranes like ethylene and propylene oxide. The structure of obtained oligoetherols was determined by IR, H-NMR and MALDI-ToF spectroscopies. Physical properties of the products render them good candidates for preparing polyurethane foams. The foams were obtained and their properties were examined. It has been found that the foams are rigid at room temperature and their apparent density was 50–70 kg/m3. The water uptake was low, maximum to 6.5 mass%. Obtained foams have high thermal resistance. Dynamic thermal analysis of these foams showed that 5% mass loss was initiated at 250–300°C, while temperature of 50% mass loss was 370–404°C. Concomitantly the increase of compression strength was observed

Polyetherols and polyurethane foams from starch

New method of synthesis of polyetherols from starch in aqueous solution was elaborated. Starch was converted into polyetherols by reactions with alkylene carbonates. The products are mixtures of starch-derived polyetherols and products of hydroxyalkylation of water. The elaborated method can be useful, eco-friendly synthetic route avoiding burdensome solvents. The polyetherols were characterized by IR, H NMR and MALDI-ToF spectroscopes and used to obtain rigid polyurethane foams. The properties of polyurethane foams obtained from such polyetherols were investigated. The polyurethane foams have apparent density, water uptake and polymerization shrinkage similar to the classic polyurethane foams. Some of obtained PUFs show improved thermal resistance; they stand long term heating at 175 °C. Furthermore, thermal exposure of obtained PUFs results in increase of their compression strength, which renders them valuable material for isolation. The polyurethane foam obtained from polyetherols synthesized in a reaction of starch with propylene carbonate showed moderate availability to biodegradation as was demonstrated by bioavailability tests with Bacillus subtilis