Development of biobased non-isocyanate polyurethane for industrial applications

Abstract: Polyurethanes (PU) have been used for a broad range of applications and are ranked among the top ten types of polymer produced globally. The traditional PU production involves toxic chemicals such as isocyanates, which can cause skin irritation and allergies, and are classified as potential human carcinogens. It is preferred to produce PU via an alternative green pathway. The reaction between five-membered cyclic carbonate and diamines is one of the most promising pathways to produce non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) polymers. However, the commercialization of NIPU has been hindered by major technical hurdles such as slow polymerization rate and poor performance. In this paper we will demonstrate increased reactivity by using natural vegetable oil and algal oil to produce NIPU products. In addition, we have developed a novel approach in which a bifunctional blowing and crosslinking agent was used to produce NIPU foam products with potential for various industrial applications.