Rigid polyurethane foam composites with vegetable filler for application in the cosmetics industry

This study was designed towards the development of rigid polyurethane foam (RPURF) composites for application in the cosmetics industry using ground hazelnut shell waste as filler. Additionally, the influence of the filler content on the structure of the composites, as well as on their physico-mechanical, thermal, and biological properties was investigated. The particle size distribution and chemical structure of the natural filler, was examined. The synthesized foams were analyzed using a variety of techniques such as infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the apparent density, water absorption, dimensional stability, compressive strength, and resistance to aging of the materials were determined. Due to the proposed application, the toxicity analysis of the synthesized materials was essential. The conducted research resulted in the development of the composition and preparation procedure for the synthesis of rigid polyurethane foam biocomposites incorporating a high content of ground hazelnut shell as filler.