Development of Rigid Polyurethane Foam (RPUF) for Imitation Wood Blown by Distilled Water and Cyclopentane (CP)

¹ the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
² Technical Service and Development Department, Covestro, PUR system house, Samut Prakan, Thailand

Abstract

Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) used for imitation wood is typically prepared by using 1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-141b) as a blowing agent. However, this chemical is a hydrofluorocarbon which severely causes ozone depletion to the atmosphere. In this study, a more environmental-friendly RPUF was prepared by using distilled water and cyclopentane (CP) as alternative blowing agent. Several properties of the prepared RPUF were investigated and measured such as density (kg/m³), surface hardness (Durometer, type D), and glass transition temperature (°C) using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). It was found that when the amount of blowing agents decreased, the foam density was increased as well as the surface hardness. The developed RPUF with CP co-blown has higher surface hardness and glass transition temperature compare to pure water-blown RPUF at the same density (353 kg/m³). And the new RPUF produced has a good potential to substitute for a conventional RPUF.