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Microwave-assisted liquefaction of wood with polyhydric alcohols and its application in preparation of polyurethane (PU) foams

Mikrowellunterstützte Verflüssigung von Holz mit mehrwertigen Alkoholen und deren Anwendbarkeit zur Herstellung von Polyurethanschaumstoff

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Abstract

Microwave radiation was used as the heating source in southern pine wood liquefaction with PEG/glycerin binary solvent. It was found that microwave heating was more efficient than conventional oil bath heating for wood liquefaction. The wood residue content of the H2SO4 catalyzed liquefied wood dropped to zero within 5 min with microwave heating. The resulting liquefied wood polyols have suitable hydroxyl values for the preparation of rigid PU foams. Both the compressive strength and apparent modulus of the liquefied-wood-based PU foams increased as the isocyanate index increased from 80 to 120. The foams from H3PO4 catalyzed polyols had lower densities than those from H2SO4 and the petroleum-based controls. They also showed lower strength and modulus than those from H2SO4. Liquefied-wood-based PU foams generally have lower compressive strength and apparent modulus than the petroleum-based controls. However, they showed better restorability from deformation than the petroleum-based controls.

Zusammenfassung

Mittels Mikrowellenstrahlung als Wärmequelle wurde Southern Pine Holz mit PEG/Glycerin als binärem Lösungsmittelsystem verflüssigt. Es zeigt sich, dass Holz mittels Mikrowellenerhitzung effizienter verflüssigt werden kann als mittels konventioneller Erhitzung im Ölbad. Der Restholzanteil des mit Katalysator H2SO4 verflüssigten Holzes fiel nach fünfminütiger Mikrowellenbeheizung auf Null. Die Hydroxylzahlen der so verflüssigten Holzpolyole sind für die Herstellung von PU-Hartschaumstoff geeignet. Sowohl die Druckfestigkeit als auch die Steifigkeit der PU-Schaumstoffe aus verflüssigtem Holz nahmen mit steigendem Isocyanatindex von 80 auf 120 zu. Die Schaumstoffe der mit Katalysator H3PO4 erzeugten Polyole wiesen geringere Dichten auf als diejenigen mit Katalysator H2SO4 und als Schaumstoffe auf Mineralölbasis. Die Festigkeit und der E-Modul waren ebenfall geringer. PU-Schaumstoffe auf Basis von verflüssigtem Holz wiesen generell eine niedrigere Druckfestigkeit und eine niedrigere Steifigkeit auf als die Kontrollproben auf Mineralölbasis. Allerdings zeigten sie ein besseres Rückverformungsverhalten als die Kontrollproben auf Mineralölbasis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dean Lee Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Alexandria, LA, 71302, USA

    Hui Pan & Zhifeng Zheng

  2. Faculty of Wood Science and Technology, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224, Yunnan, P.R. China

    Zhifeng Zheng

  3. Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Pineville, LA, 71360, USA

    Chung Y. Hse

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  1. Hui Pan
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  2. Zhifeng Zheng
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  3. Chung Y. Hse
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Correspondence to Hui Pan.

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Pan, H., Zheng, Z. & Hse, C.Y. Microwave-assisted liquefaction of wood with polyhydric alcohols and its application in preparation of polyurethane (PU) foams. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 70, 461–470 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-011-0567-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-011-0567-6

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