An investigation on bio-based polyurethane foam insulation for building construction

Bio-based renewable construction material is an old concept. Wood, straw, and other products of nature have been used for millennia around the world. However, in modern construction, the ratio of bio-based to non-renewable building materials is very low. This is primarily due to performance requirements. Purely bio-based construction materials sometimes have performance levels not quite equal to modern construction materials. The biggest challenge for the development of bio-based construction materials is to bring environmental friendliness and high engineering performance together in a single material. This paper presents results from a laboratory screening study on the development and the assessment of rigid partially bio-based polyurethane (PU) foams (seven different formulations) that contain lignin-based polyols, up to 20 % of polyol weight. The formulation strategy, morphology, and hygrothermal performance of rigid bio-based PU foams are presented and compared with the traditional petroleum-based reference PU foam. This study demonstrates that partially bio-based rigid PU foam with appropriate formulation can have characteristics that may be suitable for the construction industry applications. For market acceptance, further investigation is needed on long-term performance and durability.
ASTM Symposium on Next-Generation Thermal Insulation Challenges and Opportunities, 23 October 2013 through 24 October 2013, Jacksonville, FL