Abstract
Paper waste sludge (PWS) is the main and the greatest by-product in paper production process, and its elimination as well as destruction is a primary environmental problem. This research explores the feasibility of such wastes to be used in polyurethane foam composites. It is well known that using water as a sole blowing agent has major drawbacks such as long demould time, shrinkage, high diffusion rate of carbon dioxide and etc.; therefore, the bio-based propylene glycol (RPG) is used in order to solve such problems. The addition of 20 parts by weight (pbw) of RPG eliminates the primary shrinkage of the foam composites when PWS is used in the amount varying from 5% to 20%, and improves the dimensional stability at 70 oC and 90% relative humidity conditions. The addition of titanate coupling agent modified PWS particles increases the compressive strength of the final composites from ̴ 26% to ̴ 53%, from ̴ 17% to ̴ 31% and from ̴ 3% to ̴ 23% for, respectively, 10 pbw, 15 pbw and 20 pbw RPG extended foam composites.
Highlights
The negative impact on the environment may be reduced by using renewable resources which have a great potential in replacing traditional polymers produced from petroleum feedstocks (Belgacem, Gandini 2008; Alagi et al 2016)
The aim of this study is to choose the proper amount of water according to the requirements applied to factory made rigid polyurethane foams, and reduce the shrinkage by using chain extension with rapeseed glycerine (RPG) and obtain Paper waste sludge (PWS) filled polyurethane foam composite characterised by sufficient dimensional stability and mechanical properties
PWS particles are characterised by high moisture content (39%), organic matter (wood (Fig. 1a), cellulose fibers, lignin and in some cases organic binder) and mineral loading (Fig. 1b) consisting of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), kaolinite, talc, dolomite (Kairytė et al 2016), chemical composition and physical properties vary depending on the quality of the paper, technology of waste water cleaning and fresh water usage specifics (Zule et al 2007)
Summary
The negative impact on the environment may be reduced by using renewable resources which have a great potential in replacing traditional polymers produced from petroleum feedstocks (Belgacem, Gandini 2008; Alagi et al 2016). Accessibility and relatively low cost make vegetable oils an attractive raw material in the plastics’ industry These oils and fatty acids obtained thereof are considered as the most important renewable raw materials in chemical industry and production of ecological-functional polymers and polymeric materials (Miao et al 2014; Alam et al 2014; Pillai et al 2016). For the production of vegetable oil-based polyols, conversion of C = C double bonds or ester groups into hydroxyl groups is necessary. Such methods are analysed using various oils, e.g. palm (Pawlik, Prociak 2011), soy (Gu, Sain 2013), rapeseed (Kurańska et al 2015), castor (Wik et al 2011) and even molasses (Hatakeyama et al 2011), corn, potato starches and wheat (David et al 2009). In order to replace petroleumbased polyols with polyols from vegetable oils, they must conform certain requirements raised for polyols used in the production of polyurethane foams, i.e. they
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