Synthesis of rigid polyurethane foams from recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste

Abstract

Glycolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, waste using trimethylol propane (TMP) or pentaerytheritol (PEr) was used to produce suitable hydroxyoligomers for polyurethane foams. The glycolysis was carried out in the presence of manganese acetate as a catalyst, under high and normal pressure atmosphere in xylene and m-cresol at 220 °C. The prepared oligomers were reacted with 2,4- 2,6- toluene diisocyanate to produce different types of polyurethane foams. The compressive and flexural strengths, open and closed cell%, oxygen index% and curing times were determined and the results were correlated to the chemical structure of the produced oligomers. © Rapra Technology Limited 2006.