Inorganic-organic hybrid biodegradable polyurethane resin derived from liquefied Sakura wood

Prunus cerasus (Japanese cherry blossom: Sakura) was liquefied in polyethylene glycol-glycerol co-solvent with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as a catalyst. The liquefied wood was blended with poly-4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate to prepare polyurethane (PU) resin. In addition, inorganic-organic hybrid biodegradable polyurethane resin was prepared by adding tetraethoxysilane into liquefied-wood-derived polyurethane. It was found that the thermal stability of liquefied-wood-derived polyurethane is better than general polyurethane. Furthermore, it was ensured that Si was introduced in PU at a molecular level, while maintaining the urethane structure.