Environmentally Compatible Hybrid-Type Polyurethane Foams Containing Saccharide and Lignin Components

Semi-rigid polyurethane (PU) foams were prepared using lignin-molasses- poly(ethylene glycol) polyols. Two kinds of lignin, kraft lignin (KL) and sodium lignosulfonate (LS), were used. Both lignin and molasses polyols were mixed with various ratios and were reacted with poly(phenylene methylene) polyisocyanate (MDI) in the presence of silicone surfactant and di-n-butyltin dilaurate. A small amount of water was used as a foaming agent. The apparent density of PU foams increased with increasing lignin content. The compression strength and elastic modulus linearly increase with increasing apparent density, suggesting that mechanical properties are controllable by changing reaction conditions. The PU foams were amorphous and glass transition was detected by differential scanning calorimetry. The glass transition temperature (T_g ) maintained an almost constant value, regardless of the mixing ratio. This indicates that both the phenolic group of lignin and the glucopyranose ring of molasses act as rigid components in PU crosslinking network structures, and both groups contribute to the main chain motion to the same extent. By thermogravimetry (TG), it was confirmed that PU foams are thermally stable up to around 300 °C. By differential scanning calorimetry, T_g was observed at temperatures from 80 to 120 °C.     

Synthesis and thermal studies of flexible polyurethane nanocomposite foams obtained using nanoclay modified with flame retardant compound

This work presents thermal studies of nanocomposites based on the flexible polyurethane (PU) matrix and filled using montmorillonite organically modified with organophosphorus flame retardant compound. Flexible PU nanocomposite foams were prepared in the reaction carried out between reactive alcoholic hydroxyl and isocyanate groups with the ratio of NCO to OH groups equal to 1.05. The amount of an organoclay ranging from 3 to 9 vol% was added to the polyol component of the resin before mixing with isocyanate. The apparent density of PU foams was ranging from 0.066 to 0.077 g cm^?1. Thermal properties of the flexible PU nanocomposite foams were investigated by thermogravimetry and dynamical mechanical analysis. Glass transition temperatures (T _g) were defined as maximum peak on tanδ curve. Thermal decomposition was observed at 310–320 °C (calculated from the onset of TG curve). Tensile strength of the PU foams was determined using mechanical test. The microstructure of the nanoparticles and the composites was investigated by X-ray diffraction. Finally, it was confirmed that the thermal and mechanical properties of flexible PU nanocomposite depend on the amount of nanoclay.     

Thermal properties of solvolysis lignin-derived polyurethanes

Thermal properties of polyurethane (PU) films prepared from solvolysis lignin (SL), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) were examined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. In the SL—PEG—MDI system, the SL content, the molecular weight (M_n) of PEG and the NCO/OH ratio were changed in order to control the thermal properties. Glass transition temperatures (T_g's) of the prepared PU's were dependent on the SL content, the M_n of PEG and the NCO/OH ratio. However, the T_g of PU was significantly influenced by the SL content: the increment of T_g was ca. 150 K when the SL content in PEG increased from 0 to ca. 50%. The decomposition of the PU's was markedly dependent on the content of SL. Other factors, such as the NCO/OH ratio and the M_n of PEG, are less dominant compared with the SL content. This fact suggests that the dissociation between the isocyanate groups and the phenolic OH groups in SL may be the major factor in the whole process of the thermal decomposition of the PU containing SL     

Glass transition and thermal degradation of rigid polyurethane foams derived from castor oil–molasses polyols

Rigid polyurethane (PU) foams having saccharide and castor oil structures in the molecular chain were prepared by reaction between reactive alcoholic hydroxyl group and isocyanate. The apparent density of PU foams was in a range from 0.05 to 0.15 g cm^?3. Thermal properties of the above polyurethane foams were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and thermal conductivity measurement. Glass transitions were observed in two steps. The low-temperature side glass transition was observed at around 220 K, regardless of castor oil content. This transition is attributed to the molecular motion of alkyl chain groups of castor oil. The high-temperature side glass transition observed in the temperature range from 350 to 390 K depends on the amount of molasses polyol content. The high-temperature side glass transition is attributed to the molecular motion of saccharides, such as sucrose, glucose, fructose as well as isocyanate phenyl rings, which act as rigid components. Thermal decomposition was observed in two steps at 570 and 620–670 K. Thermal conductivity was observed at around 0.032 J sec^?1 m^?1 K^?1. Compression strength and modulus of PU foams were obtained by mechanical test. It was confirmed that the thermal and mechanical properties of PU foams could be controlled by changing the mixing ratio of castor oil and molasses for suitable practical applications.     

Thermal properties of polyurethanes derived from molasses before and after biodegradation

Polyurethane (PU) foams derived from molasses were placed in soil for various periods from 3 to 12 months. Thermal properties of PU's before and after biodegradation were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). Glass transition of PU's after 3 month's degradation was separated into two stages indicating that molecular chains of the original and decomposed portions move independently. Based on variation of glass transition temperature (T_g), heat capacity difference at T_g (δC_p), thermal degradation temperature and mass loss, the degradation mechanism of PU was established.     

Thermal properties of freezing bound water restrained by sodium lignosulfonate-based polyurethane hydrogels

In order to develop a new functional product from lignin, sodium lignosulfonate (LS)-based polyurethane (LSPU) hydrogels were prepared from LS and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) derivatives in water. Isocyanate/hydroxyl group ratio (NCO/OH ratio) was varied from 0.05 to 0.8 mol mol⁻¹, and water content (W_c = mass of water/mass of dry sample) of the obtained LSPU hydrogels was varied from 0 to 3.0 g g⁻¹. Phase transition behavior of hydrogels with various W_c’s was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). In DSC heating curve of LSPU hydrogels, glass transition, cold crystallization, melting and liquid crystallization were observed. Cold crystallization, two melting peaks and variation of melting enthalpy indicate that three kinds of water, i.e., non-freezing water, freezing bound water and free water, exist in LSPU hydrogel. Glass transition temperature (T_g) decreased from 230 to 190 K in a W_c range where non-freezing water was formed in the hydrogel. T_g increased when freezing bound water was formed in the system. T_g leveled off in a W_c range where normal ice was formed. The effect of NCO/OH ratio on molecular motion of LSPU hydrogel is examined based on T_g and heat capacity difference at T_g (ΔC_p). Water vaporization curve measured by TG also indicates the presence of bound water which evaporates at a temperature higher than ca. 410 K. By atomic force microscopic observation, the size of molecular bundle of LSPU hydrogel is calculated and compared with that of LS-water system. By cross-linking, the height of molecular bundle decreased from ca. 3–1 nm and lignin molecules extend in a flat structure.

     

Influence of structure-property relationship on the optical,thermal and mechanical properties of castor oil based transparent polyurethane for catheter applications

Castor oil based transparent polyurethane elastomers were synthesized, which can be used as an advanced catheter material. The effect of NCO: OH ratio on the structural, optical, thermal and physicomechanical properties of polyurethanes (PU) has been studied. The optical properties of the PU was analysed by studying its percentage transmittance and haze. The results showed a high transparency of 90.7% for the PU with a NCO: OH ratio of 0.9:1. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed an increase in the glass transition temperature (T_g) of PU with increasing hard segment content whereas thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows an increase in the initial decomposition temperature of PU from 262 to 268°C upon increasing the NCO: OH ratio from 0.9 to 1.5. A similar trend of increment in the tensile properties of PU has been observed as a consequence of increasing the molar ratio of NCO: OH. In vitro cytotoxicity analysis of PU was studied using human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell line that revealed the nontoxic character of PU.     

Lignin as a Partial Polyol Replacement in Polyurethane Flexible Foam

This study was focused on evaluating the suitability of a wide range of lignins, a natural polymer isolated from different plant sources and chemical extractions, in replacing 20 wt.% of petroleum-based polyol in the formulation of PU flexible foams. The main goal was to investigate the effect of unmodified lignin incorporation on the foam’s structural, mechanical, and thermal properties. The hydroxyl contents of the commercial lignins were measured using phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P NMR) spectroscopy, molar mass distributions with gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and thermal properties with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The results showed that incorporating 20 wt.% lignin increased tensile, compression, tear propagation strengths, thermal stability, and the support factor of the developed PU flexible foams. Additionally, statistical analysis of the results showed that foam properties such as density and compression force deflection were positively correlated with lignin’s total hydroxyl content. Studying correlations between lignin properties and the performance of the developed lignin-based PU foams showed that lignins with low hydroxyl content, high flexibility (low T_g), and high solubility in the co-polyol are better candidates for partially substituting petroleum-based polyols in the formulation of flexible PU foams intended for the automotive applications.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of cellulose-based polycaprolactones

Cellulose-based polycaprolactone (CAPCL) sheets were prepared from cellulose acetate (CA) and ϵ-caprolactone (CL). Thermal properties of the obtained CAPCL's were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and TG-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR). The glass transition temperatures (T_g 's) of CAPCL decreased with increasing CL/OH ratio, until CL/OH ratio reached 15 and then increased above that ratio. Melting of CAPCL was observed when CL/OH ratio was over 10. The thermal degradation temperatures (T_d 's) of CAPCL increased from ca. 350 °C to 390 °C with increasing CL/OH ratio. The results obtained by TG-FTIR analysis of CAPCL showed that gases with OH, CH, C=O, C-O-C groups evolved by thermal degradation.     

TG-FTIR studies on lignin-based polycaprolactones

Thermal degradation behaviour of alcoholysis lignin-based polycaprolactones (ALPCL's) with various molar ratios of β-caprolactone monomer to each hydroxyl group of lignin (CL/OH ratios) was studied by TG-FTIR. The temperature was varied from 20 to 800°C. Thermal degradation temperatures (T_d's) of alcoholysis lignin (AL) and ALPCL's were determined using TG curves. T_d increased with increasing CL/OH ratio, suggesting that AL becomes thermally stable after the derivatization with PCL chains. Mass residue (MR) at 500°C was also determined using TG curves. MR values decreased with increasing CL/OH ratios. The evolved gases formed by thermal degradation of ALPCL's at various temperatures were simultaneously analyzed by FTIR. The main peaks observed for the samples are as follows: wavenumber (assignment): 1160 cm^-1 (vC-O-), 1260 cm^-1(-C(=O)-O-C-), 1517 and 1617 cm^-1 (vC=C), 1770 cm^-1 (vC=O), 2345 cm^-1 (vCO2), 2945 cm^-1 (vC-H) and 3700 cm^-1 (vOH). It was found that the peak intensities for C=O, CH, C-O-C, OH peaks, which were observed for evolved gases at 430°C, increased with increasing CL/OH ratios, suggesting that the evolved gases at 430°C are mainly formed by thermal degradation of PCL chains in ALPCL's. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal decomposition and glass transition of industrial hydrolysis lignin

Thermal properties of industrial hydrolysis lignin (HL) obtained from bio-ethanol production plants were investigated by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal decomposition of HL was observed in two stages suggesting coexisting carbohydrates. Glass transition temperature (T _g) was observed in a temperature range from 248 to 363 K. T _g values were lower than that of other industrial lignins, such as kraft lignin or lignosulfate. Enthalpy relaxation was observed as sub-T _g, which is not as prominent as other industrial or laboratory scale isolated lignins. T _g of HL decreased in the presence of water and saturated at water content (W _c) of 0.18 (mass of water/mass of dry HL). The amount of bound water calculated from melting enthalpy of water and W _c was ca. 0.18. Thermal decomposition and molecular motion of as obtained industrial HL are affected by coexisting carbohydrates.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(urethane‐benzoxazine) films as novel type of polyurethane/phenolic resin composites

Poly(urethane‐benzoxazine) films as novel polyurethane ( PU )/phenolic resin composites were prepared by blending a benzoxazine monomer ( Ba ) and PU prepolymer that was synthesized from 2,4‐tolylene diisocyanate (TDI) and polyethylene adipate polyol (MW ca. 1000) in 2 : 1 molar ratio. DSC of PU/Ba blend showed an exotherm with maximum at ca. 246 °C due to the ring‐opening polymerization of Ba, giving phenolic OH functionalities that react with isocyanate groups in the PU prepolymer. The poly(urethane‐benzoxazine) films obtained by thermal cure were transparent, with color ranging from yellow to pale wine with increase of Ba content. All the films have only one glass transition temperature (T_g ) from viscoelastic measurements, indicating no phase separation in poly(urethane‐benzoxazine) due to in situ polymerization. The T_g increased with the increase of Ba content. The films containing 10 and 15% of Ba have characteristics of an elastomer, with elongation at break at 244 and 182%, respectively. These elastic films exhibit good resilience with excellent reinstating behavior. The films containing more than 20% of Ba have characteristics of plastics. The poly(urethane‐benzoxazine) films showed excellent resistance to the solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, N,N‐dimethyl formamide, and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone that easily dissolve PU s. Thermal stability of PU was greatly enhanced even with the incorporation of a small amount of Ba . © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4165–4176, 2000     

Thermogravimetry on wood powder-filled polyurethane composites derived from lignin

Novel polyurethane (PU) composites whose matrix is derived from lignin, molasses polyol and filler from wood powder were successfully prepared. Two kinds of polyol were mixed 0/100 to 100/0 in seven steps, and filler content was varied from 50 to 100 mass % to polyol content. Decomposition behaviour of PU composites was investigated by thermogravimetry. Apparent density and mechanical properties of the above composites were also measured. Surface texture was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Thermal decomposition of PU composites was found to occur in two stages. The first decomposition observed at 570–580 K (DT _d1, peak temperature of derivative curve) is attributed to the matrix of composites. The second stage decomposition depending on filler content, observed in a temperature range from 590 to 630 K (DT _d2), is attributable to filler homogenously associated with PU matrix. Marked differences were not found, when the kinds of lignin and molasses polyol composition were varied. The above PU composites were found to be thermally stabilised by the introduction of filler.     

Thermal and viscoelastic properties of polyurethane-imide/clay hybrid coatings

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of polyurethane (PU)-imide/clay hybrid coatings based on two types of polyester (PE) polyols (PE-1 and PE-2). PE-1 was prepared from neopentyl glycol (NPG), adipic acid (AA) and isophathalic acid (IPA), whereas PE-2 contains NPG, AA, IPA and TMP (trimethylol propane) with the same hydroxyl value 280 as PE-1. Cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) modified montmorillonite (K10) was used as the organoclay for the synthesis of the hybrid coatings. The organoclay particles (3 wt%) were well-dispersed into the PE matrix by ultrasonication method. Then the isocyanate terminated PU prepolymers were synthesized by the reaction of polyester polyols with hard segments such as 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI) or isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) in different NCO/OH ratios e.g., 1.6:1, 2:1 and 3:1, respectively. Finally the thermally stable imide rings were incorporated into the PU backbone by complete reaction of excess NCO content present in the PU prepolymer with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA). The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows a higher thermal stability for the PU-imide hybrid coatings with respect to the corresponding PU-imide films. A higher NCO/OH ratio has resulted in higher thermal stability. The activation energies of degradation were calculated by the Broido and Coats-Redfern methods, respectively. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) results show an enhancement in the glass transition temperature value (T_g) for the clay containing hybrid coatings. The surface analysis by angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS) showed an enrichment of the soft segment towards the surface, and an enhancement in the hard segment composition in the hybrid coatings, resulted in phase mixing.     

Effect of NCO/OH ratio and Ce‐Zr nanoparticles on the thermo‐mechanical properties of hyperbranched polyurethane urea coatings

The present study describes the effect of NCO/OH ratio and addition of Cerium (Ce)‐Zirconium (Zr) mixed oxide nanoparticles on the properties of Hyperbranched Polyurethane Urea (HBPUU) Coatings. Initially a hydroxyl terminated hyperbranched polymer (HTBP) was synthesized through A₃ + CB₂ approach. The HTBP and Ce‐Zr nanopowder dispersed HTBP, both were reacted with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) separately; at various NCO/OH eq. ratios to get different NCO terminated HBPU and HBPU/Ce‐Zr hybrid prepolymers. These prepolymers were used for the preparation of HBPUU and HBPUU/Ce‐Zr hybrid coating films through moisture curing. The techniques such as ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT‐IR, and XRD have been used for structural information while Dynamic mechanical and thermal analyzer (DMTA), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Universal testing machine (UTM) have been used for evaluation of thermo‐mechanical properties. The combined spectroscopic investigations results indicate the formation of HBPUU network with a degree of branching of 76% while FT‐IR deconvolution results indicates the formation of more hydrogen bonded structure with increasing NCO/OH ratio. The XRD and FT‐IR studies confirm the presence of Ce‐Zr mixed nanoparticles in the HBPUU hybrids. As per TGA and DMTA analysis the thermal stability, char residue, storage modulus (E', material stiffness) and glass transition temperature (T_g), increases with increasing NCO/OH ratio and Ce‐Zr nanoparticle loading in HBPUU coatings. In general, UTM data suggest that the tensile strength increases and per cent elongation at break decreases with increasing the NCO/OH ratio and addition level of nanoparticles in HBPUU coatings. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal analysis of environmentally compatible polymers containing plant components in the main chain

Environmentally compatible polymers such as poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and polyurethane (PU) derivatives from PCL's were synthesized from saccharides, polysaccharides and lignins such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, cellulose, cellulose acetate, alcoholysis lignin, kraft lignin and sodium lignosulfonate. Flexible and rigid PU sheets and foams were also prepared by the reaction of OH groups of saccharides and lignins with isocyanates such as toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). Glass transition temperatures (T_g's), cold-crystallization temperatures (T_cc's) and melting temperatures (T_m's) of saccharide- and lignin-based PCL's and PU's were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and phase diagrams were obtained. Methods of controlling mechanical properties such as stress and elasticity of PU's through changing thermal properties such as glass transition temperature were established. Thermogravimetry (TG) and TG-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) were also carried out in order to analyze the degradation temperature and evolved gases from the above obtained polymers. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Biodegradable Polyurethanes from Plant Components

Abstract

Polyurethane (PU) sheets and foams having plant components in their network were prepared by using the following procedure. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was mixed with one of the following; molasses, lignin, woodmeal, or coffee grounds. The mixture obtained was reacted with diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) at room temperature, and precured PUs were prepared. The precured PUs were heat-pressed and PU sheets were obtained. In order to make PU foam, the above mixture was reacted with MDI after the addition of plasticizer, surfactant (silicone oil), catalyst (di-n-butyltin dilaurate), and droplets of water under vigorous stirring. The glass transition temperature, tensile and compression strengths, and Young's modulus of the PU sheets and foams increased with an increasing amount of plant components. This suggests that saccharide and lignin residues act as hard segments in PUs. It was found that the PUs obtained were biodegradable in soil. The rate of biodegradation of the PUs derived from molasses and coffee grounds was between that of cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica) and beech (Fagus sieboldi).     

Concept of hard clusters in the interpretation of thermal and mechanical properties of polyurethane and polyurethane acrylate networks

Polyurethane (PU) and polyurethane acrylate (PUA) networks based on hydroxyl-terminated polycaprolactone (PCL), 1,3-bis-2,2′(2-isocyanatopropyl)benzene (m-TMXDI), trimethylolpropane (TMP) for PU or hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) for PUA were synthesized. Glass transition temperature, T_g, dynamic mechanical relaxation, α, and equilibrium tensile modulus, E′, were measured to compare the two kinds of networks. To explain thermal and mechanical properties of networks, the concept of hard clusters has been introduced. PU networks exhibit a single-phase structure with modulus and T_g dependent on the concentration of elastically active network chains (EANC) per unit volume calculated by considering hard crosslink clusters. The rigidity of the clusters comes from small diisocyanate and trimethylolpropane units connected by urethane bonds. They are embedded in a continuous soft phase of macrodiol urethane. Physical equivalence between several kinds of network models has been demonstrated for full conversion of isocyanate-alcohol reaction. PUA networks exhibit thermodynamically one-phase structures that become a two-phase structure for high molar mass of macrodiol when the molar fraction of isocyanate groups increases. For those networks, the calculated modulus considering clusters based on polyacrylate chains seems to be a good way to approach the experimental value of the equilibrium modulus. For the same molar ratio of OH to NCO groups the range of dynamic moduli is larger for PUA than for PU. This difference can be explained by a different concentration of crosslinks in the networks. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation of high‐temperature polyurethane by alloying with reactive polyamide

A series of novel poly(urethane amide) films were prepared by the reaction of a polyurethane (PU) prepolymer and a soluble polyamide (PA) containing aliphatic hydroxyl groups in the backbone. The PU prepolymer was prepared by the reaction of polyester polyol and 2,4‐tolylenediisocyanate and then was end‐capped with phenol. Soluble PA was prepared by the reaction of 1‐(m‐aminophenyl)‐2‐(p‐aminophenyl)ethanol and terephthaloyl chloride. The PU prepolymer and PA were blended, and the clear, transparent solutions were cast on glass substrates; this was followed by thermal treatments at various temperatures to produce reactions between the isocyanate group of the PU prepolymer and the hydroxyl group of PA. The opaque poly(urethane amide) films showed various properties, from those of plastics to those of elastomers, depending on the ratio of the PU and PA components. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed two glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's), a lower T_g due to the PU component and a higher T_g due to the PA component, suggesting that the two polymer components were phase‐separated. The rubbery plateau region of the storage modulus for the elastic films was maintained up to about 250 °C, which is considerably higher than for conventional PUs. Tensile measurements of the elastic films of 90/10 PU/PA showed that the elongation was as high as 347%. This indicated that the alloying of PU with PA containing aliphatic hydroxyl groups in the backbone improved the high‐temperature properties of PU and, therefore, enhanced the use temperature of PU. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3497–3503, 2002     

Improvement of thermal and mechanical properties of poly(L‐lactic acid) with 4,4‐methylene diphenyl diisocyanate

In this study, the thermal and mechanical properties of biodegradable poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLA) were improved by reacting with 4,4‐methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The resulting PLA samples were characterized with Fourier transformation infrared spectrometer (FT‐IR). The glass transition (T_g) and decomposing (T_d) temperature of the resulting products were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The tensile properties were also measured with a tensile tester. The results show that when the molar ratio of ? NCO to ? OH was 2:1, the T_g value can be increased to 64°C from the original 55°C, and the tensile strength increased from 4.9 to 5.8 MPa. This demonstrated that by reacting PLA with MDI at an appropriate portion, both the thermal and mechanical performance of PLA can be increased. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.