Publication: Palm oil based polyols for polyurethane foams application
Date
2010
Authors
Ooi Chun Wen
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Abstract
This thesis reports the study of palm based polyol for polyurethane foam application. The study consists of the general introduction of palm oil, polyurethane, polyurethane foams and its applications, epoxidation process, foaming materials, cup foaming method and effects of microwave chemistry to the chemical reaction process. Enzymatic epoxidation method and conventional chemical method were both studied in this project to derive palm based polyol from palm acid oil which is a by-product from chemical refining process of palm oil. Microwave irradiation was used to accelerate the epoxidation process and the method of using microwave irradiation was studied to optimize the speed of epoxidation process. Palm based polyol derived from palm acid oil was mixed with polyiscocyanate to produce polyurethane foam without adding any catalyst or additive. The properties of the polyurethane foam outcomes are semi-rigid, low density and brittle if the foam was let it free rise but rigid, higher density and harder if the entrapped air of the foam was removed. For improvement, the rigid polyurethane foam produced using palm acid oil can be further developed to polyurethane composite material by mixing with Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) fiber.
Description
TP1180.P8. O54 2010
Keywords
Palm products , Polyols , Polyurethanes