Bio-based foam insulation

Abstract

The depletion of fossil feedstock, climate change, and environmental pollution push the scientific and industrial communities to focus their researches and production on more ecological materials using sustainable approaches. The substitution of fossil feedstock by renewable substances from biomass is driven by the development of new materials having different molecular architectures with greater or new performance characteristics. Innovative development based on ideas of circular economy and cleaner production requires new solutions in the production of bio-based components for the polymers industry, which could generate more benefits for the economics and environment. Natural oils are sustainable, eco-friendly renewable resources that can be applied to synthesize a new class of precursors such as polyols that can be implemented in the production of different polymeric materials, such as polyurethanes. Polyurethanes are commonly derived by the reaction of low molecular weight polyols with isocyanates. Both of the raw materials used contain at least two or more functional groups per molecule, which result in the formation of branched, linear or cross-linked polyurethane products. Nowadays, bio-based polyurethane foams from various vegetable- or waste-based oils and natural fillers as reinforcement are of great importance in order to increase the renewable content of the resultant products. Therefore, the chapter reveals the advantages of natural oil-based and natural filler reinforced polyurethane foams with improved performance characteristics and application possibilities in the building industry.