Sustainability by Converting Waste Polyurethane Foam into Superior Polyurethane Urea Coatings

Recycling is a crucial area of research in Green Polymer Chemistry and developments in recycling are driven by environmental concerns, interests in sustainability and desire to decrease dependence on petroleum based materials. Sustainability refers to the development that meets the needs of present without comprising the ability of future generations. Polyurethane foams (PU) are widely used due to their light weight and superior heat insulation as well as good mechanical properties. However, large quantities of polyurethane foam are discharged during manufacturing/ processing as a waste and hence recycling of PU foam is necessary. In present study polyurethane foam is reacted with an alkanolamines in presence of a catalystin conventional as well as microwave method, but microwaves proved to be fast to depolymerise polyurethanes foam as compared to conventional method. The rate of reaction could be made identified by comparing the hydroxyl values of the two systems. The hydroxyl value increases as the time and microwave power increases. Further the depolymerised product with specified hydroxyl and amine groups is further cured with isocyanates for coating application and the coating formed is evaluated for physical, mechanical and chemical tests.