Preparation of natural rubber-based polyol by oxidative degradation under supercritical carbon dioxide for flexible bio-based polyurethane foams. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amnuaysin, Thidarat; Buahom, Piyapong; Areerat, Surat
• Is Part Of: Journal of cellular plastics. Volume 52:Number 6(2016)
• Page Start: 585
• Page End: 594
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Flexible polyurethane foams -- oxidative degradation -- epoxidized natural rubber -- hydroxyl-terminated liquid natural rubber -- sorbitol; Plastic foams -- Periodicals; 668.493
• DOI: 10.1177/0021955X15583882
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-955X

Abstract

Nowadays, polyurethane foams play a key role in widespread applications, and their market demand is still growing globally. This work aims to prepare hydroxyl telechelic liquid natural rubber, a bio-based polyol, as a sustainable raw material and to enhance elastic properties of soft segment bio-based polyurethane foams. A hydroxyl telechelic liquid natural rubber with a viscosity-average molecular weight of 4.2 × 10 3 g/mol was successfully produced by oxidative degradation of natural rubber with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of supercritical carbon dioxide, then modifying the chain-end functionality to obtain hydroxyl number of 59 mg KOH/g. The functionality of hydroxyl telechelic liquid natural rubber was confirmed by FT-IR and 1 H-NMR. Bio-based polyurethane foams were then prepared by mixing the synthesized hydroxyl telechelic liquid natural rubber with commercial diisocyanate. Morphological properties and thermal stability of polyurethane foams were investigated.