Structure of Glycerol and Cellulose Fiber Modified Water-Blown Soy Polyol-Based Polyurethane Foams

In this brief report, the effects of reinforcing agents, glycerol and refined cellulose fiber, have been studied on the foaming reactions of polyurethane based on polyol derived from soy bean oil. The presence of glycerol and cellulose fiber has been observed to have a considerable influence on the density of the foams. Changes in density of different foams have been correlated with the chemical structures generated in the presence of the components, and analyzed by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic study and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations are in line with the modifications induced by the reinforcing components.