Date of Award
5-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
The bio-based materials α-phellandrene and β-caryophyllene were used in this research as starting materials for the synthesis of novel bio-based polyurethane foams. The purpose was to assess the properties of the novel bio-based polyurethane foams and to determine whether they could serve as viable options for the commercial application of thermal insulation of buildings, freezers, pipes and storage tanks. The bio-based polyols using α-phellandrene and β-caryophyllene were synthesized. The polyols were synthesized using a photochemical thiol-ene coupling reaction. The hydroxyl groups were attached to the bio-based materials using different mol ratio of 1-thioglycerol and 2-mercaptoethanol. The synthesized bio-based polyols were used to prepare novel polyurethane foams. The polyurethane foams were synthesized using 100% bio-based polyol and a mixture of polyols having 50% bio-based polyol and 50% Jeffol SG-360. A reference polyurethane foam was also prepared using commercially available polyol (Jeffol SG-360). This particular foam served as the industrial reference to which the properties of all the novel polyurethane foams were compared. The properties of foam which were assessed in this research include: closed cell content, density, mechanical property, glass transition temperature, microstructural analysis, and thermal stability. It was found that the prepared polyurethane foams were comparable in property to the industrial reference foam. These foams proved superior to the industrial reference foam in the properties of closed cell content, glass transition temperature, and mechanical property. Overall, it was determined based on the assessment of their properties that the novel bio-based polyurethane foams which were synthesized and studied in this work could serve as viable options in industry to be used for the purpose of thermal insulation in areas including, but not limited to, buildings, storage tanks, freezers and pipes.
Recommended Citation
Elbers, Nelson, "Novel Polyurethane Foams Derived from Bio-Based Materials" (2015). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 29.
https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/etd/29
