The effect of polymerization temperature on polyurethane synthesis using Calophyllum inophyllum oil-based polyol.

Currently, polyurethane (PU) is a multipurpose polymer with wide uses, including as a coating, adhesive and foam. Conventionally, the raw materials for PU synthesis are isocyanates and diols/ polyols derived from petroleum. Vegetable oils have double bonds in the carbon chains of the fatty acids that make up them, which allows them to be converted into diols/ polyols. For this reason, this research aims to look for alternative polyol raw materials, namely from Calophyllum inophyllum oil (local name "nyamplung" and the term nyamplung oil is used hereafter) and to obtain data on the characteristics of PU based on its polymerization temperature. PU synthesis was carried out by reacting nyamplung oil based polyols with 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI) at synthesis temperatures of 70, 80, 90,100,110,120,130,140 and 150 °C. The PU characteristics observed were percentage of elongation and swelling index. At polymerization temperatures of 70-100 °C, PU can be formed into films with a smooth surface. Meanwhile, at a polymerization temperature of 110-150 °C, PU takes the form of foam which becomes harder and stiffer as the polymerization temperature increases. Based on swelling index data, the higher the polymerization temperature, the smaller the PU swelling index produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]