Rigid Polyurethane Foams as Thermal Insulation Material from Novel Suberinic Acid-Based Polyols
Developing polyols from biomass sources contributes to a more circular economy by replacing petroleum-based polyols in the vast production of polyurethanes (PUR). One such potential biomass source could be leftover birch bark from which suberinic acids (SA) can be obtained. The purpose of this study...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/14/3124 |
| _version_ | 1797587652173627392 |
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| author | Aiga Ivdre Arnis Abolins Nikita Volkovs Laima Vevere Aigars Paze Raimonds Makars Daniela Godina Janis Rizikovs |
| author_facet | Aiga Ivdre Arnis Abolins Nikita Volkovs Laima Vevere Aigars Paze Raimonds Makars Daniela Godina Janis Rizikovs |
| author_sort | Aiga Ivdre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Developing polyols from biomass sources contributes to a more circular economy by replacing petroleum-based polyols in the vast production of polyurethanes (PUR). One such potential biomass source could be leftover birch bark from which suberinic acids (SA) can be obtained. The purpose of this study was to identify the best synthesis routes for novel SA-based polyols, obtain rigid PUR foams, and evaluate their competitiveness and potential suitability as thermal insulation material. Novel polyols were synthesized from depolymerized SA by esterification with various functionality and molecular weight alcohols in several molar ratios. The moisture content, hydroxyl and acid values, and apparent viscosity were tested. Free-rise rigid PUR foams from the most suitable SA-based polyol and tall oil-based polyol were successfully prepared, reaching ~20 wt.% total renewable material content in the foam. The obtained rigid PUR foams’ morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties were investigated and compared to present foam materials, including commercial foams. The apparent density (~33 kg/m<sup>3</sup>), as well as the closed cell content (~94%), compression strength (0.25 MPa, parallel to the foaming direction), and thermal conductivity (~0.019 W/(m·K)), approved the competitiveness and potential ability of SA-based rigid PUR foam production as thermal insulation material. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:41:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5110eb278e5c40339ecfb6da02e0ce5c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:41:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-5110eb278e5c40339ecfb6da02e0ce5c2023-11-18T21:03:38ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-07-011514312410.3390/polym15143124Rigid Polyurethane Foams as Thermal Insulation Material from Novel Suberinic Acid-Based PolyolsAiga Ivdre0Arnis Abolins1Nikita Volkovs2Laima Vevere3Aigars Paze4Raimonds Makars5Daniela Godina6Janis Rizikovs7Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes St., LV-1006 Riga, LatviaLatvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes St., LV-1006 Riga, LatviaPolyLabs SIA, 46 Mukusalas St., LV-1004 Riga, LatviaLatvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes St., LV-1006 Riga, LatviaLatvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes St., LV-1006 Riga, LatviaPolyLabs SIA, 46 Mukusalas St., LV-1004 Riga, LatviaLatvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes St., LV-1006 Riga, LatviaLatvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, 27 Dzerbenes St., LV-1006 Riga, LatviaDeveloping polyols from biomass sources contributes to a more circular economy by replacing petroleum-based polyols in the vast production of polyurethanes (PUR). One such potential biomass source could be leftover birch bark from which suberinic acids (SA) can be obtained. The purpose of this study was to identify the best synthesis routes for novel SA-based polyols, obtain rigid PUR foams, and evaluate their competitiveness and potential suitability as thermal insulation material. Novel polyols were synthesized from depolymerized SA by esterification with various functionality and molecular weight alcohols in several molar ratios. The moisture content, hydroxyl and acid values, and apparent viscosity were tested. Free-rise rigid PUR foams from the most suitable SA-based polyol and tall oil-based polyol were successfully prepared, reaching ~20 wt.% total renewable material content in the foam. The obtained rigid PUR foams’ morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties were investigated and compared to present foam materials, including commercial foams. The apparent density (~33 kg/m<sup>3</sup>), as well as the closed cell content (~94%), compression strength (0.25 MPa, parallel to the foaming direction), and thermal conductivity (~0.019 W/(m·K)), approved the competitiveness and potential ability of SA-based rigid PUR foam production as thermal insulation material.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/14/3124polyurethanerigid polyurethane foamssuberinbio-polyolssuberinic acidssustainability |
| spellingShingle | Aiga Ivdre Arnis Abolins Nikita Volkovs Laima Vevere Aigars Paze Raimonds Makars Daniela Godina Janis Rizikovs Rigid Polyurethane Foams as Thermal Insulation Material from Novel Suberinic Acid-Based Polyols Polymers polyurethane rigid polyurethane foams suberin bio-polyols suberinic acids sustainability |
| title | Rigid Polyurethane Foams as Thermal Insulation Material from Novel Suberinic Acid-Based Polyols |
| title_full | Rigid Polyurethane Foams as Thermal Insulation Material from Novel Suberinic Acid-Based Polyols |
| title_fullStr | Rigid Polyurethane Foams as Thermal Insulation Material from Novel Suberinic Acid-Based Polyols |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rigid Polyurethane Foams as Thermal Insulation Material from Novel Suberinic Acid-Based Polyols |
| title_short | Rigid Polyurethane Foams as Thermal Insulation Material from Novel Suberinic Acid-Based Polyols |
| title_sort | rigid polyurethane foams as thermal insulation material from novel suberinic acid based polyols |
| topic | polyurethane rigid polyurethane foams suberin bio-polyols suberinic acids sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/14/3124 |
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