POS9-0043
Self-Catalytic Recycled Polyols for the Preparation of Sustainable Polyurethane Foams
Topic
S9. Polymer Technology for Sustainability
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Ya-Wen Hsueh (Master Program in Biological and Sustainable Technology, National Chung Hsiung University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
This study explores the use of recycled polyols derived from the degradation of industrial polyurethane (PU) foam waste and epoxy resin waste for the preparation of PU foams. PU-oligomer (UO), modified PU-oligomer (UM), and recycled epoxy resin derived polyols (ER) were employed as the main polyol components. Hexamethylene diisocyanate biuret trimer (HDB) was used as the isocyanate component, organosiloxane as the surfactant, and distilled water as the chemical blowing agent. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the self-catalytic behavior of amine-containing degradation polyols. The primary objective was to evaluate the self-catalytic behavior of amine-containing degradation polyols and their potential to replace conventional organotin catalysts, thereby reducing both toxicity and environmental burden in PU foam production.
PU foams were prepared at NCO/OH molar ratios of 1.0 and 1.5 examine the influence of recycled polyol source and formulation on foaming behavior and material performance. The results indicated that the UM foaming system exhibited enhanced reactivity and foaming efficiency, which was attributed to the self-catalytic effect of residual amine functionalities in the recycled polyols. In particular, UM1.0 showed the largest average cell size (131.5 ± 30.7 μm), the lowest density (56.80 ± 2.66 kg/m³), and a short tack-free time of 350 s, indicating a favorable balance between foaming and network formation during foaming. The recycled polyol content reached 35.6-46.3 wt% of the total raw materials, demonstrating a high potential for waste valorization and circular material utilization.
In addition to improved processability, the UM-based foams showed excellent structural stability. UM1.5 exhibited the highest weight retention after water immersion and solvent resistance tests (89.8-97.2%), suggesting the formation of a stable and durable polymer network. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis further confirmed the successful formation of urethane linkages in the recycled PU foams. Therefore, the results demonstrate that amine-containing recycled polyols can serve not only as renewable feedstocks but also as functional self-catalytic components for the development of more sustainable PU foam systems. This work provides a promising strategy for converting polymer waste into value-added PU materials and supports future applications in low- or non-volatile organic compounds green material systems.
PU foams were prepared at NCO/OH molar ratios of 1.0 and 1.5 examine the influence of recycled polyol source and formulation on foaming behavior and material performance. The results indicated that the UM foaming system exhibited enhanced reactivity and foaming efficiency, which was attributed to the self-catalytic effect of residual amine functionalities in the recycled polyols. In particular, UM1.0 showed the largest average cell size (131.5 ± 30.7 μm), the lowest density (56.80 ± 2.66 kg/m³), and a short tack-free time of 350 s, indicating a favorable balance between foaming and network formation during foaming. The recycled polyol content reached 35.6-46.3 wt% of the total raw materials, demonstrating a high potential for waste valorization and circular material utilization.
In addition to improved processability, the UM-based foams showed excellent structural stability. UM1.5 exhibited the highest weight retention after water immersion and solvent resistance tests (89.8-97.2%), suggesting the formation of a stable and durable polymer network. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis further confirmed the successful formation of urethane linkages in the recycled PU foams. Therefore, the results demonstrate that amine-containing recycled polyols can serve not only as renewable feedstocks but also as functional self-catalytic components for the development of more sustainable PU foam systems. This work provides a promising strategy for converting polymer waste into value-added PU materials and supports future applications in low- or non-volatile organic compounds green material systems.
