Sugar-based elastic microporous polyurethane foams with high compression strength, excellent cushioning and vibration damping properties

Abstract

To enhance the compressive strength of polyurethane-based cushioning and damping foam, in this study, a series of elastic microporous polyurethane foams (IPUFs) were prepared using the bio-based isosorbide (IS) as the chain-extender. With the addition of rigid IS, the foam gradually transitioned to a closed-cell structure; the cell size decreased from 602 to 294 μm, and the cell size distribution became more uniform; furthermore, the compressive strength gradually increased from 0.01 to 0.55 MPa. Among them, the IS amount of 15 % provided the best candidate (IPUF-15), which has excellent compressive recovery (compression set: 8.8 %). Its compressive strength (0.55 MPa) is 55 times higher than the original PUF and 4 times higher than that of 1,4-butanediol expanded chain foam (BPUF-15). It has a higher compressive strength and a comparable cushion factor (3.5) to the most commonly used commercially expanded polystyrene cushion foam (EPSF). In addition, as a cushion foam, IPUF-15 also has good vibration damping performance, and its vibration damping temperature range can reach 53 ℃. The foams developed in this research hold significant potential for applications in cushioning and damping materials across various sectors, including automotive, sports equipment, and footwear.