Abstract
The study analyses rigid polyurethane (PUR) foam modified with 10–30 wt.% sunflower press cake (SFP) and liquid glass-impregnated sunflower press cake (LG-SFP) particles and their impact on performance characteristics of PUR foams—foaming behaviour, rheology, thermal conductivity, compressive strength parallel and perpendicular to the foaming directions, tensile strength, dimensional stability, short-term water absorption by partial immersion, and thermal stability. Even though the dynamic viscosity and apparent density were increased for SFP and LG-SFP formulations, thermal conductivity values improved by 17% and 10%, respectively, when 30 wt.% of particles were incorporated. The addition of SFP and LG-SFP particles resulted in the formation of more structurally and dimensionally stable PUR foams with a smaller average cell size and a greater content of closed cells. At 30 wt.% of SFP and LG-SFP particles, compressive strength increased by 114% and 46% in the perpendicular direction, respectively, and by 71% and 67% in the parallel direction, respectively, while tensile strength showed an 89% and 85% higher performance at 30 wt.% SFP and LG-SFP particles loading. Furthermore, short-term water absorption for all SFP and LG-SFP modified PUR foam formulations was almost two times lower compared to the control foam. SFP particles reduced the thermal stability of modified PUR foams, but LG-SFP particles shifted the thermal decomposition temperatures towards higher ones.
Highlights
The building sector significantly affects the economy and environment
It is determined (Figure 2) that the size of non-impregnated sunflower press cake (SFP) ranges from 0.063 mm up to 1.4 mm with a residual moisture content of 1.1 ± 0.2 wt.% and bulk density of 527 ± 2 kg/m3, while liquid glass-impregnated sunflower press cake (LG-SFP) particles have particle sizes ranging from 0.09 mm up to 2.8 mm with a residual moisture content of 0.50 ± 0.1 wt.% and a bulk density of 531 ± 2 kg/m3
The current paper presents the impact of SFP and liquid glass (LG)-SFP particles as fillers on the physical and mechanical properties of PUR foams
Summary
The building sector significantly affects the economy and environment. This sector is the main consumer of approximately 36% of the total energy and 50% of the total raw materials used [1,2]. Since the building sector accounts for 39% of all energy and technology-related carbon dioxide emissions, further emissions of greenhouse gas will significantly contribute to upcoming environmental issues. Eco-consciousness has increased the interest in circular economy and sustainable development goals, including industrial ecology, sustainability, and environmental protection. Even though the incorporation of natural fibres and fillers into polymer systems shows great advantages in the performance of the products, the greater contribution of waste-based natural resources on sustainability and circular economy is proven as well
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