Eco‐friendly blowing agent, HCFO‐1233zd, for the synthesis of polyurethane foam as cryogenic insulation

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 139; no. 2
• Main Authors: Park, Jin‐Seok, Kim, Hee‐Tae, Kim, Jeong‐Dae, Kim, Jeong‐Hyeon, Kim, Seul‐Kee, Lee, Jae‐Myung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 10.01.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: blowing agent; Blowing agents; Chlorofluorocarbons; Compressive strength; cryogenic; Density; Hydrofluorocarbons; Impact resistance; Insulation; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Morphology; Polymers; Polyurethane foam; Synthesis; Thermal conductivity; thermal properties; Thermodynamic properties
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.51492

Polyurethane foam is an insulating material, which is adopted in various industrial fields owing to its high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and excellent impact resistance. The most important additive in the synthesis process of the polyurethane foam is the blowing agent because it significantly affects the cell structure and density. HFC‐245fa, the most widely used blowing agent, is expected to be terminated under strict environmental regulations owing to its high global warming potential. This study synthesizes a new eco‐friendly polyurethane foam with HCFO‐1223zd in the density range of 90 to 190 kg/m3. After the synthesis process, the microstructural morphology of the HCFO‐1223zd blown polyurethane foam was observed using scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the insulation performance was compared to conventional polyurethane foam. Furthermore, mechanical characteristics were investigated at 20 and −163°C temperatures. The results show that the HCFO‐1233zd blown polyurethane foam has superior mechanical and thermal properties compared to the conventional blowing agents. A new eco‐friendly blowing agent, HCFO‐1233zd, was used for polyurethane foam fabrication under severe environmental regulations. We investigated the mechanical and thermal properties in the density range of 90 to 190 kg/m3 for cryogenic insulation application. Additionally, the effects of the blowing agent on the polyurethane foam microstructure were analyzed. As a result, we found that the possibility of HCFO‐1233zd based on the superior characteristic compared to the conventional blowing agent.