Green Polyurethanes from Renewable Isocyanates and Biobased White Dextrins

Abstract

Polyurethanes (PUs) are an important class of polymers due to their low density and thermal conductivity combined with their interesting mechanical properties—they are extensively used as thermal and sound insulators, as well as structural and comfort materials. Despite the broad range of applications, the production of PUs is still highly petroleum-dependent. The use of carbohydrates in PU synthesis has not yet been studied extensively, even though, as multihydroxyl compounds, they can easily serve as crosslinkers in PU synthesis. Partially or potentially biobased di-, tri- or poly-isocyanates can further be used to increase the renewable content of PUs. In our research, PU films could be easily produced using two bio-based isocyanates—ethyl ester L-lysine diisocyanate (LLDI] and ethyl ester l-lysine triisocyanate (LLTI)—, one commercial isocyanate—isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), and a bio-based white dextrin (AVEDEX W80) as a crosslinker. The thermal and mechanical properties are evaluated and compared as well as the stability against solvents.