Polymeric precursors from PET waste and their application in polyurethane coatings

Starch derived polyhydric compounds were synthesised and utilised for depolymerisation of PET. Three different oligoesters were synthesised by reacting 5, 15 and 25 wt.% of PET. Depolymerised oligomers were esterified with coco fatty acid to give novel polymeric precursors - polyester polyols. Two-pack polyurethane coating systems were formulated using these polyols as base materials. Performance properties of these coating systems were evaluated. Depolymerisation of PET, polyol synthesis and polyurethane synthesis were characterised by FTIR spectroscopy.