English Abstract

Research and Development Trend of Biomass-based Polyurethanes

Ken KOJIO
Chemistry and Materials Science Division Graduate School of Engineering, Nagasaki University, Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, Japan
Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi,(2013),86(6),176-180 General Review in Japanese

A shift from petrochemical feedstocks towards biomass-based feedstocks is of both environmental and economical importance for the future production of chemicals, plastics, fibers, rubbers and so forth. One of the most important requirements to biomass-based materials is to keep or be prior to various properties of existing petrochemical materials. In this review, I shall focus on the recent research and develop trend of biomass-based polyurethanes. The review consists of two parts; polyurethane mixed with biomass as filler and the polyurethane in which the biomass is employed as a main ingredient. The latter concerns various oil-based polyols including castor oil, soybean oil and rapeseed oil, which is one of the ingredients of flexible polyurethane foams.

Keywords: Biomass, Polyurethane, Filler, Oil-based Polyol, Elastomers, Foams