Synthesis of Polyurethane from Apricot Kernel Oil and Characterization

Abstract

In the study, natural origin polyol was obtained from apricot kernel oil. The obtained polyol was used in the synthesis of polyurethane, which is an industrially important polymer. Obtaining polyol from apricot kernel oil was firstly epoxidized with a two-step process and then converted to the desired polyol structure by oxirane ring opening. The obtained biocompatible polyol structure was subjected to polymerization process with the hexamethylene diisocyanate structure. The obtained polyurethane structures were characterized chemically, thermally and morphologically. The chemical structure was investigated by FTIR spectra. The thermal stability, Tg values and decomposition temperatures of the obtained polyurethane structure were investigated by TGA, DTA and DSC techniques. The basic morphological features of the polyurethane structure were evaluated by SEM analysis.