Andrew Guo

Thermal stability of polyurethanes based on vegetable oils

A series of polyurethanes from polyols derived from soybean, corn, safflower, sunflower, peanut, olive, canola, and castor oil were prepared, and their thermal stability in air and nitrogen assessed by thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, and GC/MS. Oil-based polyurethanes generally had better initial thermal stability (below 10% weight loss) in air than the polypropylene oxide-based polyurethane, while the latter was more stable in nitrogen at the initial stage of degradation. If weight loss at a higher conversion is taken as the criterion of stability, then oil polyurethanes have better thermal stability both in air and in nitrogen.

Rigid polyurethane foams based on soybean oil

Both HCFC- and pentane-blown rigid polyurethane foams have been prepared from polyols derived from soybean oil. The effect of formulation variables on foam properties was studied by altering the types and amounts of catalyst, surfactant, water, crosslinker, blowing agent, and isocyanate, respectively. While compressive strength of the soy foams is optimal at 2 pph of surfactant B-8404, it increases with increasing the amount of water, glycerin, and isocyanate. It also increases linearly with foam density. These foams were found to have comparable mechanical and thermoinsulating properties to foams of petrochemical origin. A comparison in the thermal and thermo-oxidative behaviors of soy- and PPO-based foams revealed that the former is more stable toward both thermal degradation and thermal oxidation. The lack of ether linkages in the soy-based rather than in PPO-based polyols is thought to be the origin of improved thermal and thermo-oxidative stabilities of soy-based foams.

Structure and properties of halogenated and nonhalogenated soy‐based polyols

Four polyols intended for application in polyurethanes were synthesized by oxirane ring opening in epoxidized soybean oil with hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, methanol, and hydrogen. The structures of the polyols were characterized by spectroscopic, chemical, and physical methods. The brominated polyol had 4.1 hydroxy groups, whereas the other three polyols had slightly lower functionality. The densities, viscosities, viscous-flow activation energies, and molecular weights of the polyols decreased in the following order: brominated > chlorinated > methoxylated > hydrogenated. All the polyols were crystalline solids below their melting temperature, displaying multiple melting peaks. The methoxylated polyol was liquid at room temperature, whereas the other three were waxes.

Polyols and Polyurethanes from Hydroformylation of Soybean Oil

This paper compares physical and mechanical properties of polyurethanes derived via the hydroformylation approach and is a part of our study on the structure–property relationships in polyurethanes created from vegetable oils. The double bonds of soybean oil are first converted to aldehydes through hydroformylation using either rhodium or cobalt as the catalyst. The aldehydes are hydrogenated by Raney nickel to alcohols, forming a triglyceride polyol. The latter is reacted with polymeric MDI to yield the polyurethane. Depending on the degree of conversion, the materials can behave as hard rubbers or rigid plastics. The rhodium-catalyzed reaction afforded a polyol with a 95% conversion, giving rise to a rigid polyurethane, while the cobalt-catalyzed reaction gives a polyol with a 67% conversion, leading to a hard rubber having lower mechanical strengths. Addition of glycerine as a cross-linker systematically improves the properties of the polyurethanes. The polyols are characterized by DSC. The measured properties of polyurethanes include glass transition temperatures, tensile strengths, flexural moduli, and impact strengths.

Structure and properties of polyurethanes based on halogenated and nonhalogenated soy–polyols

Four polyols were prepared by a ring opening of epoxidized soybean oil with HCl, HBr, methanol, and by hydrogenation. Two series of polyurethanes were prepared by reacting the polyols with two commercial isocyanates: PAPI and Isonate 2143L. Generally, the properties of the two series were similar. The crosslinking density of the polyurethane networks was analyzed by swelling in toluene. Brominated polyols and their corresponding polyurethanes had the highest densities, followed by the chlorinated, methoxylated, and hydrogenated samples. The polyurethanes with brominated and chlorinated polyols had comparable glass transition and strength, somewhat higher than the polyurethane from methoxy containing polyol, while the polyurethane from the hydrogenated polyol had lower glass-transition and mechanical properties.

Plastics and Composites from Soybean Oil

Useful composite matrix materials have been prepared from a series of soybean oils. Their properties are primarily affected by crosslink density. The utility of these resins was demonstrated on two series of laminates prepared from two types of polyols and several types of reinforcements: glass fabric, carbon fiber, polyester, and cotton and jute fabrics. Polyurethane matrix resins are a viable alternative to epoxy and polyester matrix resins and they are already being used commercially in selected farm combine and automotive applications.