Recycling of Polyurethane Foams Recovered from Shredder Residue via Glycolysis Process into Polyurethanes 2006-01-1579
Polyurethane (PU) foams were recovered from European and U.S. shredder residues, which typically come from automobiles and other sources of durable goods, such as appliances, furniture, construction, etc. PU foams were characterized and glycolyzed. Glycolysis products were successfully treated for the removal of select substances of concern, heavy metals, and bromine-containing compounds and propoxylated into polyols for polyurethanes with 171 and 355 average equivalent weights.
Properties of the glycolysis product and corresponding propoxylated polyols were evaluated, including their molecular weight distribution via gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The polydispersity index decreased from 5.8 to 2.1 by reaction of glycolysis product with 50 wt% of propylene oxide based on a total amount of the initiator.
The recycled polyol of an average equivalent weight of 171 was evaluated in rigid polyurethane and urethane-modified isocyanurate foam formulations. This recycled polyol exhibited self-catalytic properties, as no catalyst was needed in preparation of water-blown rigid polyurethane foams. Foams based on the recycled polyol exhibited significantly better resistance to combustion than the foams prepared from the conventional sucrose-based polyol; physical and mechanical properties of foams were similar.
Citation: Sendijarevic, V., Sendijarevic, I., Mayne, K., Winslow, G. et al., "Recycling of Polyurethane Foams Recovered from Shredder Residue via Glycolysis Process into Polyurethanes," SAE Technical Paper 2006-01-1579, 2006, https://doi.org/10.4271/2006-01-1579. Download Citation
Author(s):
Vahid Sendijarevic, Ibrahim Sendijarevic, Kevin Mayne, Gerald R. Winslow, Claudia M. Duranceau, Nakia L. Simon, Candace S. Wheeler
Affiliated:
Troy Polymers, Inc., KBS Consulting - Vehicle Recycling Partnership, Ford Motor Company - Vehicle Recycling Partnership, DaimlerChrysler - Vehicle Recycling Partnership, General Motors Corp.- Vehicle Recycling Partnership
Pages: 11
Event:
SAE 2006 World Congress & Exhibition
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Related Topics:
Foams
Metals
Combustion and combustion processes
Recycling
Catalysts
Drag
Durability
Logistics
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