Abstract
The massive production of Polyurethane foam from various products generates an extensive amount of waste, mostly in the form of dust that is emitted while cutting, trimming, or grinding the foam. In this research, the polyurethane dust (PUD) waste is incorporated into unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) to fabricate a heat insulation composite material to be used in construction. Filler percentages ranging from 10% to 50% were used to make the UPR-PUD composite materials. The thermal and mechanical properties of the material were studied in order to evaluate the ability of the composites for this type of application. Thermogravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimeter tests were applied to determine the thermal stability of the material. In addition, the microstructure of the prepared composites and the incorporation of PUD filler into the polyester matrix were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The FTIR and XRD analyses suggested that adding PUD improved the curing process of unsaturated polyester and enhanced its crystalline structure. The experimental results showed promising thermal insulation capability, with low thermal conductivity in the range of 0.076 to 0.10 W/m·K and low water retention. Moreover, the composites exhibited compression strength between 56 and 100 MPa and tensile strength between 10.3 and 28 MPa, much higher than traditional thermal insulators and many building materials.
Highlights
The unsaturated polyester resin (UPR)-polyurethane dust (PUD) composite presented here is a revolutionary solution for lowering landfill ratios
Because of its improved qualities, UPR-PUD composites can be employed as an alternative heat insulator
The use of PU dust lowers the cost of insulation materials while providing a viable solution to the problem of thermoset recycling and municipal waste management
Summary
Polyurethanes (PUs) are polymeric materials with a vast range of types and applications due to their characterization and properties. It was first developed by the German professor Otto Bayer in 1947 [1]. These types include rigid polyurethane foams, flexible polyurethane foams, and thermoplastic polyurethanes [2]. Each of these types has several applications and usages. Flexible polyurethane is used in packaging, interior parts of cars, and furniture. Thermoplastic polyurethane is used extensively in electronic parts, sports tools and medical devices [2]. The coating classifications of polyurethanes include moisture-cured PU-urea, PU-imide, and waterborne PU, all of which are heavily used in construction and automotive coatings [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
