Structure and properties of polyurethane foams obtained from rapeseed oil polyols

By transesterifying rapeseed oil with tr iethanolamine or glycerol, polyols with a hydroxyl number of 290-310 mg KOH/g were synthesized. Water-blown rigid polyurethane foams (PUFs) with an isocyanate index of 150-250 were obtained from rapeseed oil polyols. Studies on the effect of the concentration of potassium oleate, the cyclotrimerization catalyst of isocyanate groups, on the conversion degree of isocyanate groups were carried out using FTIR spectroscopy. The optimal physical and mechanical properties of the obtained PUFs were achieved at an isocyanate index of 150-200. Water-blown PUFs from rapeseed polyols, in contrast to water-blown PUFs from petrochemical polyols, are characterized by quite high hydrophobicity.