Date of Award
Winter 11-21-2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Materials Science
First Advisor
Dr. RAM GUPTA
Second Advisor
Dr. KHAMIS SIAM
Third Advisor
Dr. SERIF URAN
Keywords
Flame-retardancy, Rigid polyurethane foams, Soybean oil-based polyol, Bio-derived products, Polymer chemistry, Natural oil polyol
Abstract
The usage of petro-chemical based sources in polyurethane has raised environmental concerns in recent years. Bio-based polyurethanes are attractive alternatives for these conventional petrochemical-based polyurethanes. In this work, a soybean oil-based polyol was synthesized via thiol-ene reaction. Chromatography, wet chemistry methods, and spectroscopic evaluations were carried out to characterize the synthesized polyol. The polyol obtained was then used to produce flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foams with three different organophosphorus flame-retardants: dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP), triethyl phosphate (TEP), and triphenyl phosphate (TPP). Incorporating flame-retardants in polyurethane foams provide them resistance to ignition where these foams are originally highly combustible. Physico-mechanical and flammability properties of polyurethane foams were evaluated experimentally. All the polyurethane foams with the flame-retardants showcased improved fire safety. In polyurethane foams with DMMP, the burning time was reduced to 5 s from 97 s with a reduction in weight loss from 45% to 5%. Polyurethane foams with TEP showed a reduced burning time of 4 s from 100 s and a weight loss of 4% from 38.5%. In polyurethane foams with TPP, the original burning time of 120 s was reduced to 27 s. Such findings indicate promising flame safe renewable polyurethane foams for industrial use and further development.
Recommended Citation
Ingsel, Tenzin, "ONE-STEP SYNTHESIS OF SOYBEAN OIL-BASED POLYOL FOR HIGHLY FLAME-RETARDANT RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAMS" (2020). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 721.
https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/etd/721
