Design of a Low-Decomposition–Temperature Polyurethane Foam

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide In this work, we describe polyurethane foams designed to degrade at relatively low temperatures, incorporating polypropylene carbonate polyols as well as novel polycarbonates designed for low-temperature degradation. Polyurethane foams formed using degradable polyols and typical water/MDI blowing agents showed poor degradation performance. Significantly better degradation performance was observed in foams formulated to use a minimum of water/isocyanate blowing agent. Degradation performance was also improved by the inclusion of a strong acid catalyst and the use of aliphatic isocyanates in place of aromatic isocyanates. These degradable polyurethane foams may have applications in low-waste packaging or packaging of hazardous materials.