Synthesis of cashew Mannich polyol via a three step continuous route and development of PU rigid foams with mechanical, thermal and fire studies

Abstract

Abstract Renewable, biodegradable, agricultural resources are gaining increasing attention of many researchers because of growing environmental awareness and their potential to replace petrochemical derivatives. Cardanol obtained from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a renewable resource of immense potential. Cardanol, obtained as a byproduct of the cashew processing industry, is an important renewable resource and a unique phenolic compound carrying a 15-carbon side chain in the meta position, with varying degrees of unsaturation. The current research work describes the synthesis of new bio-based cashew Mannich polyols via the stepwise oxazolidine route and confirmed by spectral analysis. The foaming characteristics were studied and the polyols were successfully used in making rigid polyurethane (PU) foams with good mechanical, thermal and fire properties. The foams were characterized for density, flexural strength, morphology and limiting oxygen index (LOI) properties.