Sains Malaysiana 42(4)(2013): 449–457

Rigid Polyurethane Foam from Glycolysed Polyethylene Terephthalate

Dissolved in Palm-based Polyol

(Busa Poliuretana Tegar daripada Sisa Polietilena Tereftalat Terglikolisis Terlarut Poliol Sawit)

Khairiah Haji Badri*

Polymer Research Center, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Lily Iliyana Mohd Dawi & NurAshikin Abd Aziz

School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Received: 8 June 2011/Accepted: 15 March 2012

ABSTRACT

An investigation on the thermal and mechanical properties of rigid polyurethane (PU) foam from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste (of plastic drinking bottles) was conducted. The PET waste was glycolysed with ethylene glycol prior to blending with palm based-polyol (PKO-p). This blend was then reacted with 2, 4-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) at a ratio of 1:1 to form the PU foam. The incorporation of the glycolysed PET (g-PET) into the PKO-p was studied at 50, 70 and 100% w/w loading. PU foam prepared from 100% w/w g-PET (without PKO-p) resulted in PU with high glass transition temperature and mechanical strength. This water-blown foam has molded and core densities of 182 kg m^-3 and 179 kg m^-3, respectively, with maximum compressive stress and modulus at 396 kPa and 1920 kPa, respectively. An initial enthalpy value of 3164.8 cal g^-1 and a glass transition temperature of 65ºC were observed.

Keywords: Glycolysis; palm based-polyol; polyethylene terephthalate waste; rigid polyurethane foam

ABSTRAK

Suatu kajian tentang sifat terma dan mekanik busa tegar poliuretana (PU) daripada sisa polietilena tereftalat (PET) (botol plastik minuman) telah dijalankan. Sisa PET ini telah diglikolisiskan sebelum diadun bersama poliol sawit (PKO-p). Adunan ini kemudiannya ditindak balaskan dengan 2, 4-metilena difenil diisosianat (MDI) pada nisbah 1:1 untuk menghasilkan busa PU. Kemasukan PET terglikolisis (g-PET) ini ke dalam PKO-p dikaji pada penambahan 50, 70 dan 100% bt/bt. Busa PU yang disediakan daripada 100% bt/bt g-PET (tanpa PKO-p) menghasilkan PU yang mempunyai suhu peralihan kaca dan kekuatan mekanik tertinggi. Busa yang disediakan dengan agen pembusaan air ini mempunyai ketumpatan teracu dan teras masing-masing 182 kg m^-3 dan 179 kg m^-3 dengan tegasan dan modulus mampatan maksima pada masing-masing 396 kPa dan 1920 kPa. Nilai entalpi awal 3164.8 kal g^-1 dan suhu peralihan kaca pada 65ºC direkodkan.

Kata kunci: Busa poliuretana tegar; glikolisis; poliol sawit; sisa polietilena tereftalat

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*Corresponding author; email: kaybadri@ukm.my