The use of biodegradable polymer as an alternative raw material for the production of new ecopolyol

The current development trend in the polyurethane industry is the replacement of petrochemical polyols by polyols derived from renewable sources (biopolyols) or from chemical recycling (ecopolyols). A method of synthesis of a new polyol raw material based on pure polylactide (PLA) derived from corn and diethylene glycol (GDE) was developed as a result of the research. A number of tests were carried out to characterize the obtained product in terms of application for the polyurethane industry. The research carried out determinations of the hydroxyl number, acid value, density, viscosity and water content. Spectroscopy analyses in FT-IR, H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR were model in order to confirm the assumed chemical structure of the obtained product and the presence of reactive hydroxyl groups. GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography) analysis was also performed to determine the average weight and average number molecular weight, and dispersion of the obtained ecopolyol. Studies have confirmed that the obtained polyol raw material can be successfully used in the polyurethane industry and can be a green alternative to petrochemical polyols.