Menu
MapConnectionsTopicsBulgariaThe Night (K-TRIO)Marie Skłodowska-CurieFor studentsFor teachersMethodologySurprise me
HEIndividual fellowship2022–2024

SPRUT · Synthesis of bio-based non-isocyanate polyurethanes and their modification towards industrial application

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2022-05-01 → 2024-04-30
EU contribution
€191,760
Participants
1
Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Synthesis of bio-based non-isocyanate polyurethanes and their modification towards industrial application

Polyurethanes (PUs) are a diverse family of plastics that we can find in wide variety of objects that surround us in everyday use. For example, foams in sleeping mattresses and shape memory pillows are PU foams, and so are the foams that are used for insulation of window frames and doors during construction. Thermoplastic PUs (TPUs) are extensively used in the production of shoe soles due to their durability, flexibility, and resistance to wear and tear. In the automotive industry, TPUs are used while making interior and exterior parts such as dashboards, door panels, and protective coverings. Their impact resistance and aesthetic qualities make them suitable for these applications. PUs also have many other useful applications in textiles, industrial insulation, medical devices, electronics etc. The main issue with PUs is that they are produced from isocyanates – chemical compounds which are highly toxic and cancerogenic. They present significant respiratory and dermal hazards and can cause chronic illness or even death upon overexposure. Scientists are trying to substitute isocyanates with other compounds in order to reduce occupational hazards for workers who are frequently exposed to isocyanates. One of the potential solutions is to use cyclic carbonates and diamines to produce polyhydroxyurethanes (PHUs) that are similar in structure to PUs and are usually considered as their greener alternative. However, current state of the art PHUs possess insufficient molecular weights and are very hydrophilic. These two factors combined result in poor mechanical properties and thus limit the practical utility of PHUs. The SPRUT project was aimed at improving methods for PHU synthesis and developing method for their modification in order to reduce their hydrophilicity. The combined success of these two main goals will bring PHUs closer to industrial requirements and may allow to facilitate the substitution of toxic isocyanates at workplaces and everyday lives.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

This project is devoted to synthesis of non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPU) from bio-based sources and their post-modification towards industrial application. The use of bio-based monomers for NIPU synthesis allows to overcome the dependence on fossil resources and to reduce the CO2 emissions. However there are several possible drawbacks for industry such as high prices for bio-based monomers and demand for arable land to ensure large scale production.NIPU were introduced in 1990s as the alternative to conventional polyurethanes because they allow to avoid usage of toxic isocyanates. However, they were not industrialised due to their insufficient molecular weights limited by reaction ability of monomers and increased hydrophilicity that facilitates hydrolysis during processing.The SPRUT project will simultaneously deal with several NIPU related issues.At first, the effective catalyst based on Al heteroscorpionate complexes for converting bio-based bisepoxides to 5-membered cyclic bicarbonates via CO2 addition will be developed. The obtained bicarbonate bio-compounds will be used as feedstock for production of NIPU applying various approaches to increase their MW above 20000 Da: synthesis in bulk, copolymerization of two different bicarbonates and the use of ionic liquids.In the 2nd stage of the project, the unique method for post-synthetic modification of NIPU that was never used for these polymers will be introduced to increase their mechanical properties and processability. The basic click reaction of bio-based aldehydes (heptaldehyde and benzaldehyde) with adjacent hydroxyl groups in the NIPU backbone enables the reduction of intermolecular hydrogen bonding leading to better processability. The resulting aldehyde modified NIPUs containing non-polar side chains are supposed to be much more hydrophobic and possess increased physico-mechanical properties compared to previously developed NIPU and even some conventional PUs.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • LUXEMBOURG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY · Esch Sur AlzetteCoordinatorLuxembourg

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union