DEVELOPMENT OF A RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAM FROM PALM OIL

The reactions between polymeric diphenyl methane diisocyanate (polymer ic MDI) and conventional polyols to produce foamed polyurethane produc ts are well documented and published. Current polyurethane foams are p redominantly produced from these reactions whereby the polyol componen ts are usually obtained from petrochemical processes. This article des cribes a new development in polyurethane foam technology whereby a ren ewable source of polyol derived from refined-bleached-deodorized (RED) palm oil is used to produce polyurethane foams. Using very basic foam formulation, rigid polyurethane foams were produced with carbon dioxi de as the blowing agent generated from the reaction between excess pol ymeric MDI with water. The foams produced from this derivatized RED pa lm oil have densities in excess of 200 kg/m(3) and with compression st rengths greater than 1 MPa. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.