Performance properties of rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate/brewers' spent grain foamed composites as function of isocyanate index

In the presented work, rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate (PUR-PIR) foams filled with brewers' spent grain (BSG) were prepared. The influence of the isocyanate index (II) on its performance was investigated. Foams obtained with higher isocyanate index required a higher amount of hydrofluorocarbon physical blowing agent to provide the same apparent density of material. An increase of isocyanate index resulted in a slight decrease of cell size, which was related to the increased crosslink density due to enhanced generation of allophanate and biuret groups. Deterioration of compressive strength, from 226 to 202 kPa was observed with the rise of the isocyanate index. Dynamic mechanical analysis and swelling tests confirmed the increase of crosslink density with the increasing isocyanate index. The glass transition temperature rose from 165.7 degrees C to 193.2 degrees C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis indicated an increase of the isocyanurate rings' content in composites with a higher isocyanate index, causing noticeable enhancement of thermal stability. The onset of degradation was shifted from 196 degrees C to 211 degrees C.