Rigid polyurethane foams based on soybean oil

Both HCFC- and pentane-blown rigid polyurethane foams have been prepared from polyols derived from soybean oil. The effect of formulation variables on foam properties was studied by altering the types and amounts of catalyst, surfactant, water, crosslinker, blowing agent, and isocyanate, respectively. While compressive strength of the soy foams is optimal at 2 pph of surfactant B-8404, it increases with increasing the amount of water, glycerin, and isocyanate. It also increases linearly with foam density. These foams were found to have comparable mechanical and thermoinsulating properties to foams of petrochemical origin. A comparison in the thermal and thermo-oxidative behaviors of soy- and PPO-based foams revealed that the former is more stable toward both thermal degradation and thermal oxidation. The lack of ether linkages in the soy-based rather than in PPO-based polyols is thought to be the origin of improved thermal and thermo-oxidative stabilities of soy-based foams.