Date of Award
Spring 5-15-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Dr. Ram K. Gupta
Second Advisor
Dr. Khamis Siam
Third Advisor
Dr. Anuradha Ghosh
Fourth Advisor
Dr. John Franklin
Keywords
Polyurethane, Biopolymer foams, Waste utilization, Bio-based polyols, Flame-retardant, Material performance
Abstract
Polyurethane (PU) is a versatile and widely utilized polymer with a broad spectrum of applications across various industries. Its unique properties make it suitable for numerous products that enhance comfort and efficiency in everyday life. Traditional PU production relies on petroleum-based raw materials, which have negative impacts on the environment. This study focuses on the utilization of waste cooking oil (WCO), specifically three to four times-used canola oil (UCO), to synthesize rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) as an environmentally friendly alternative by replacing petroleum-based raw materials. This approach also aims to address environmental concerns associated with the improper disposal of WCO into drainage systems, land, and rivers and reduce dependence on costly fresh vegetable oils for PU production. WCO is readily available as a byproduct of domestic cooking, food service establishments, and industries. In this work, UCO was collected from domestic sources, filtered, and converted into polyol, which serves as a key component in producing RPUFs, using epoxidation and ring-opening methods. The quality of UCO-based polyol was compared with polyol synthesized from new canola oil (NCO) through qualitative tests including the iodine test, epoxy-oxirane oxygen test, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), hydroxyl number analysis, and so on. The fire resistivity of RPUFs was also tested by introducing flame retardants such as dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) and expandable graphite (EG). The final synthesized material was tested to assess properties like fire retardancy, thermal stability, and cell structure of RPUFs. DMMP-contained foam lost its weight by 12.10% and burned for 8.3 seconds instead of 54.9 seconds in pure PU foam. EG-treated foam also demonstrated advantages in flame retardancy with a weight drop of 5.86% and a burning period of only 16.5 seconds. The closed-cell content of all the foams was above 90%, which is a crucial characteristic for foam insulation applications. The results indicate that UCO can be effectively utilized for producing high-quality RPUFs. This suggests the potential for using WCO as a sustainable and cost-effective raw material in PU foam manufacturing.
Recommended Citation
Patel, Janu, "STRUCTURAL AND THERMOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS PREPARED USING FRESH AND RECYCLED CANOLA OIL" (2024). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 520.
https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/etd/520
