The role of catalysis in the synthesis of polyurethane foams based on renewable raw materials

• Synthesis of bio-based polyols from selectively hydrogenated rapeseed oil.
• Application of gel, blow and surface cure catalysts in flexible polyurethane foams.
• Improved compressive strength and tensile properties of bio-based flexible foams.

In the last years growing attention is paid to environmental concerns with a special attention to bio- and renewable resources as feedstock for the chemical industry as well as to heterogeneous catalytic processes as tools for the elimination of wastes. This paper describes the results obtained in the application of vegetable oils stabilized through a selective hydrogenation process for the preparation of polyols and therefore in the synthesis of flexible polyurethane foams which are the most common and widely used among polyurethane materials. The influence of a different catalytic system on gelling and blowing reactions was studied and then properties of obtained foams were compared. It was found that the selection of catalytic system during preparation of polyurethane foams substantially influenced the properties of the final materials.

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