Characterization of rigid polyurethane foam prepared from recycling of PET waste

Abstract

Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste bottles were recycled to prepare RPUFs (rigid polyurethane foams) by using propylene glycol (PG) in different glycol/polymer molar ratios. The glycolysis products were characterized, after that, they reacted with poly methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI) in the presence of blowing, co-blowing and second blowing agents to produce the RPUFs. The prepared foams were characterized and compared to foam that is produced by original polyol. It was found that the glycolysis products have possibility for the fabrication of RPUFs with proper properties depending on the blowing agent type and density, also they have similar thermal stability compared to that one produced by original polyol. This may provide an advantage in the future planning for recycling of PET bottles to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of PU.