About new ecological oligomerols and polyurethanes obtained from them
On the basis of glicerol remaining as 12% residue (1 mln ton in the world scale), along with the production of "biodiesel" from vegetable oils, new totally ecological oligomerols built from polyglycerol, partly esterified by vegetable oil fatty acids, were elaborated. They are oligoetheresterols, containing ether bonds in the main chain and ester bonds in side fatty acids chains. They were given a marketing name "OLIGOL's".
OLIGOL's are homogenous, transparent, dark brown liquids from low viscous up to semi-liquid at room temperature. OLIGOL's react with isocyanates forming new segmented polyurethanes, forming flexible segments in them. Properties of OLIGOL's can be changed in a broad range, adjusting them to requirements meeting the demands of PUR's obtained from them.
It is possible to change both: the length of the main polyether chain (poly-1,3 oxy-2-hydroxy-propylene, form n=2 to 300), and the degree of substitution (esterification) of free hydroxyl groups in chain of polyglicerine by fatty acids.
Hydroxyl number (HN) of OLIGOL's is ranking from 30 to 500 mg KOH/g. The average functionality of OLIGOL molecule in relation to isocyanates can amount from 2 to 100, average molecular weight form 730 to >30 000, viscosity from 0,2 Pa.s to 120 Pa.s in room temperature.
From OLIGOL's and isocyanates one can obtain solid and foamed polyurethanes (PUR's). Due to the presence of fatty acids long aliphatic chains, to obtain PURs form OLIGOL's a smaller (almost two-fold) quantity of isocyanates is needed and also smaller is heat liberated during the reaction of foaming.
This enables obtaining of smaller density (up to 17 kg/m³) PUR foams foamed by water without the danger of burning.
OLIGOL's one well mix with isocyanates (TDI, MDI, PMDI) and aliphatic hydrocarbon, including pentanes. Pentane(s) can be used in a simple way as physical blowing agents. The presence of fatty acid rests impose hydrophobity to PURS's obtained from OLIGOL's. Solid PUR's obtained from OLIGOL's and MDI have elasticity module up to 80 MPa. Semi-rigid and rigid PUR foams with appartent density of 17-58 kg/m³ and regular, amaller-cellular structure, while deformation of 10%, have compressive strength 27-48 kPa and elasticity module 53-95 kPa.
Detailed assortment of OLIGOL's is elaborated on the basis of the customer's needs. Teoretically it is possibile to obtain even up to 1000 kinds of OLIGOL's.
OLIGOL's are produced and supplied by eco innova.
Price estimates for OLIGOL's will be about 5 PLN/kg.