Development of Water Blown Bio-Based Thermoplastic Polyurethane Foams

Abstract

Water blown biobased thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foams were prepared using synthetic and biobased chain extender. The concentration of chain extender, blowing agent (BA) and surfactant were varied and their effects on physical, mechanical and morphological properties of foams were investigated. Density, compressive strength and modulus of foams decreases with an increase in BA content and increased with chain extender concentration, but do not change significantly with change in surfactant concentration. The glass-transition temperatures of the foam samples increases with an increase in BA and chain extender concentration. The cell size of the foam sample increases slightly with an increase in BA whereas chain extender concentration has no effect on cell size.