Rigid polyurethane foams with poly(ethylene terephthalate)/triethanolamine recycling products

A product of the chemical degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with triethanolamine was used as a polyol component for rigid polyurethane foam synthesis. Miscibility of the product with water, some polar organic solvents and commercial polyols was investigated. Viscosities of the product as a function of temperature as well as in solutions with water and the polyols were examined. The PET chemical recycling product was used instead of the commercial polyol in rigid polyurethane foam formulation. Technological times were defined for the process of the foam synthesis. These foams have density of about 30 kg/m3, compression strength in a range of RC = 80–160 kPa and thermal conductivity coefficient λ = 0.028–0.038 W/m K. Rigid polyurethane foams prepared from the product of PET degradation with triethanolamine can be considered as insulation materials.