A study of polyether-polyol- and polyester-polyol-based rigid urethane foam systems

Abstract

For the past 10 years polyurethane polymers have been one of the fastest growing segments of the plastics industry. Over 900 million pounds of polyurethanes were used in 1970. Approximately 30% of this amount was consumed in the form of rigid urethane foam products. This study undertakes a comparison of the properties of rigid urethane foams based on both a polyester polyol and polyether polyol of the same hydroxyl number prepared from alpha methylglucoside. This comparison of ester and ether polyols in urethane foams is closer than in previous studies because: (1) both types of polyols are based on alpha methylglucoside; (2) they both have the same hydroxyl number and functionality; and (3) the rigid foams in which they are used have been formulated to have essentially the same crosslink density. Several physical and thermal properties of the foam systems were determined. A discussion of test results as they relate to the presence of the ester and ether linkages in the polyols is presented.