RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research (Special Issue - October 2008), p. 53-60

BIO-BASED POLYOLS FOR THE FLEXIBLE SLABSTOCK FOAM INDUSTRY

GENOVA, Ricardo de * ; MALSAM, Jeff * ; ZLATANIC, Alisa ** ; WAZIRZADA, Yusuf *

ABSTRACT

During the last few years, interest in polyols derived from natural oils has been constantly increasing for a variety of polyurethane applications. Bio-based polyol chemistry brings new product supply options that are produced from renewable resources, have supply stability and provide the opportunity for differentiation in the foam market-place. These are some of the key drivers for the polyurethane processors to look at ways to utilize such products. Until now, the successful use of natural oil-based polyols in flexible slabstock applications has been limited due to issues with quality consistency, odour, impact on physical properties and processing limitations. Most recently, Cargill Incorporated introduced its BiOHTM polyol product line for the production of flexible foams leveraging on the company’s integrated supply chain and deep knowledge in processing oilseeds and vegetable oils on a global basis. Commercially available BiOH polyols are produced predominantly from soya-based feedstock. However, this article will show that Cargill can produce equally high quality polyols using palm feedstock. BiOH polyols are performance products produced with a chemistry that is completely detached from propylene or ethylene oxide. BiOH polyols have also resolved the odour and quality consistency issues previously encountered with other natural oil-based polyols. This article will describe the large-scale evaluation results of the first generation BiOH polyols in different foam grades and their ability to deliver the following: ease of processing with commercially available catalysts, surfactants and additives; improved flammability; improved hydrolysis resistance; performance enhancement in different foam grades such as viscoelastic; same level of microbial activity; more efficient load-bearing building capabilities than SAN copolymer polyols and smaller environmental footprint.

KEYWORDS:


* Cargill Industrial Bio-Products,
15407 McGinty Road West,
MS#69, Wayzata,
MN 55391, USA.
E-mail: Jeff_Malsam@cargill.com

** Pittsburg State University,
1501 South Joplin,Pittsburg,
KS 66762,USA.

Note: BiOHTM is a registered trademark of Cargill Incorporated.