Polyester Polyols For Rigid Polyurethane Foams
Polyester Polyols For Rigid Polyurethane Foams
Polyester Polyols For Rigid Polyurethane Foams
The first polyols used for rigid polyurethane foams (PUF) were low-molecular weight
(MW) polyesters based on adipic acid (AA), phthalic anhydride and various glycols
or polyols. One example of a polyester of this type is the polycondensation product
between AA, phthalic anhydride and trimethylolpropane (TMP) [1–3].
Sometimes, this polyester is modified with oleic acid in order to improve its
compatibility with blowing agents. The chemistry for the synthesis of rigid polyester
polyols is absolutely the same as the chemistry for the synthesis of polyester polyols
used in elastic polyurethane (PU), described in detail in the Volume 1, Chapter 5.
These polyester polyols were of minor importance and during the period 1960–1970,
they were replaced rapidly by low cost, low viscosity and high functionality polyether
polyols, which lead to superior physico-mechanical properties of the resulting rigid
PUF and superior miscibility with fluorocarbon blowing agents. The polyether polyols
proved to be superior in rigid PUF fabrication, when the isocyanate index was low,
approximately 105–115. The characteristics of two representative polyester polyols
for rigid PUF based on AA, phthalic anhydride and TMP are presented in Table 5.1.
PIR foams are in fact hybrid structures having both groups: urethane groups (resulting
from the reaction of -NCO groups of isocyanates with hydroxyl groups of polyols)
and isocyanurate rings, derived from the trimerisation of an excess of -NCO groups
against the hydroxyl groups (isocyanate index of 200–300 or more). Trimerisation
of -NCO groups is catalysed by special catalysts, such as tris(dimethylaminomethyl)
phenol, potassium acetate and other catalysts:
107
Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes, 2nd Edition, Volume 2
R
O O Isocyanurate
N
CH3COOK C C
R NCO
N N
R C R
O O
O N
C C
OCOHN R′′ NHCOO R O COR′COORO CONH R′′ N N
n C
Table 5.1 Characteristics of some polyester polyols for rigid PUF based on
AA, phthalic anhydride and TMP
Polyester polyol Polyester polyol
based on AA, based on AA,
Characteristic Unit
phthalic anhydride phthalic anhydride,
and TMP TMP and oleic acid
MW daltons 900 1,030
OH# mg KOH/g 350–390 350–390
Average functionality Hydroxyl groups per mol 6.0 6.6
Viscosity, 70–75 °C mPa.s 2,500–4,000 1,300–1,500
Pour point °C 21 7
Acid number mg KOH/g <4 <1
Density, 25 °C g/ml 1.12 1.1
KOH: Potassium hydroxide
OH#: Hydroxyl number(s)
The highly crosslinked structure is not derived from polyester polyol, which has a
low functionality (f = 2–3 hydroxyl groups/mol), but is derived from the isocyanurate
rings generated by the trimerisation of the excess of -NCO groups.
Of course the thermal stability and char yield depend on the polyol structure too and
the aromatic polyols are superior to aliphatic polyols from this point-of-view. This
108
Polyester Polyols for Rigid Polyurethane Foams
is the reason for the extremely rapid growth of aromatic polyester polyols, of low
functionality, low viscosity and low cost.
The aromatic polyester polyols were developed based on the following cheap and
accessible raw materials:
c) Phthalic anhydride.
The bottom residues from DMT fabrication are benzyl and methyl esters of
dicarboxylic and tricarboxylic acids with biphenyl or triphenyl structures together
with DMT [4, 6]. By the transesterification reactions of these complex ester residues
with DEG, aromatic polyester polyols with a functionality in the range 2.2–2.3
hydroxyl groups/mol are obtained.
The product of transesterification with DEG has a complex structure (Reactions 5.2
and 5.3):
109
Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes, 2nd Edition, Volume 2
ROCO
COOR + 2 HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCO
COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH + 2 ROH
COOR
ROCO
+ 3 HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
COOR
COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCO + 3 ROH
COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
(5.3)
Generally, these residues from DMT fabrication are difficult to transport and are
used on-site to be transformed into aromatic polyester polyols by transglycolysis
[4]. Excellent rigid polyester polyols are obtained from pure DMT (Reaction 5.2).
PET wastes, proved to be an excellent raw material for low cost aromatic polyester
polyols. By transesterification with DEG and (or) propylene glycol or dipropylene
glycol (DPG), liquid, low viscosity and low functionality aromatic polyester polyols
were obtained. Due to the low cost, DEG is the preferred glycol for transesterification
(Reaction 5.4) [4, 6–8, 12]:
CO COOCH2CH2O + 2n HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
n
PET
HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCO COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
+ 2n HOCH2CH2OH (5.4)
110
Polyester Polyols for Rigid Polyurethane Foams
Of course the product of the transesterification reaction is much more complex, being
a mixture of superior oligomers and free DEG together with the main product and
the mixed ester terephthalate of EG and DEG.
The reaction between PET and DEG takes place at higher temperatures, approximately
200–230 °C, without catalysts or better still in the presence of the usual catalysts
for polyester synthesis (lead, manganese, tin, titanium or zinc compounds). In the
situation of transesterification without catalyst, the catalyst existing in PET wastes
acts as the catalyst for glycolysis, but the reaction needs longer times. The time for
liquefaction of PET with DEG varies from 6–14 h [2, 4].
The process of PET glycolysis with DEG has several disadvantages: the reaction
products are viscous liquids with a tendency to solidification or even to be solid at room
temperature (RT), the reproducibility of the characteristics of the resulting polyester
polyols are difficult to realise (poor consistency) and the products of transesterification
are not compatible with the blowing agents (pentanes or hydrofluorocarbons) [4, 6].
The main technical problem to be solved is to assure the liquid state of the PET
glycolysis product. This problem was solved in various ways:
a) By distillation under vacuum of the resulting EG. It is well known that the EG
terephthalate has a tendency to crystallisation and a high melting point(s) (mp)
(approximately 256 °C). By using an excess of DEG and by EG distillation,
the terephthalic diester of DEG results, a liquid, without any tendency towards
crystallisation [19].
b) Introduction of flexible aliphatic acids such as: AA, sebacic acid, glutaric acid
and so on, followed by the elimination of water resulted in the polycondensation
reaction of these acids with the diols present in the reaction system. Low viscosity
polyester polyols result, which remain liquid at RT without any tendency to
solidification [14–16].
111
Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes, 2nd Edition, Volume 2
CH3
HOCH2CH2OCO COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH + 2x
O
CH3 CH3
The characteristics of some aromatic polyester polyols derived from the glycolysis of
PET wastes are presented next:
112
Polyester Polyols for Rigid Polyurethane Foams
b) The condensation of the carboxylic groups in the resulting half ester of phthalic
acid with DEG (Reaction 5.7):
O + HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
O
Phthalic anhydride DEG
O
OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
OH
O (5.6)
O
OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
OH + HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
O
O
OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
+ H2 O
OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
O (5.7)
113
Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes, 2nd Edition, Volume 2
COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCO
HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCO (5.8)
All the aromatic polyester polyols have a high aromaticity, of approximately 20%.
All the aromatic polyesters based on DEG have poor compatibility with blowing agents
(pentanes or fluorocarbons) and to improve this compatibility ‘compatibilising polyols’
such as: ortho-toluene diamine polyols, propoxylated α-methyl glucoside polyols,
oxyethylated p-nonylphenol, amine and amide diols, PO–EO block copolymers,
borate esters, silicone compounds and so on, are frequently used [27–30].
Due to the low cost, the excellent physico-mechanical properties of the resulting
urethane-isocyanuric foams, thermal and fire resistance and low level of smoke
generation, the most important applications of aromatic polyester polyols are for
rigid PU/PIR foams in the boardstock market (continuous rigid foam lamination)
and for building insulation.
The rigid PUF/PIR foam [1, 4–32] enjoyed an enormous success in recent years, making
the aromatic polyester polyols dominate the USA polyol for rigid foam business,
bypassing the polyether polyol business [4, 6]. In Europe, the penetration of PUF/
PIR rigid foam based on aromatic polyesters has been limited, but the tendency is
for a slow growth of aromatic polyester production.
5.4 Other Methods for the Synthesis of Polyester Polyols for Rigid
Foams
In this section, several methods for rigid polyester polyols synthesis, of minor industrial
importance at this moment, but which present a real potential for developing new
polyol structures will be presented.
114
Polyester Polyols for Rigid Polyurethane Foams
sorbitol, pentaerythritol (PER) or TMP. A polyester polyol derived from PER has the
following properties: functionality of 4 hydroxyl groups/mol, OH# of 600 mg KOH/g,
acid number of approximately 2 mg KOH/g and a of viscosity 7,000 mPa.s at 25 °C
(Reaction 5.9) [2, 33–35]:
HOCH2 CH2OH C O
C + 4x
HOCH2 CH2OH (CH2)5
Thus, by the propoxylation of the reaction product of 1 mol of maleic anhydride with
1 mol of glycerol, aliphatic polyester polyols having functionalities greater than 3,
in the range of 3–4 hydroxyl groups/mol are obtained. The functionality of greater
than 3 is created in situ by the addition of a hydroxyl group to the double-bond of
the maleic esters formed (Reactions 5.10):
115
Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes, 2nd Edition, Volume 2
CH CH
CH2OH CH CH CH2OCO COOH
CHOH + OC CO CHOH
O
CH2OH CH2OH
CH CH
CH2OCO COOH CH3
CHOH + 3x CH2 CH
CH2OH O
CH CH CH3
CH2OCO COO CH2CHO H
CH3 x
CHO CH2CHO H
x
CH3
CH2O CH2CHO H
x (5.10)
116
Polyester Polyols for Rigid Polyurethane Foams
CH CH CH3 CH3
CH3
CH2OCO COOH CH3
CH2OCO COO CH2CHO H
x
CHOH + 3x CH2 CH CH3
117
Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes, 2nd Edition, Volume 2
Propoxylation of organic hydroxy acids such as citric acid (Reaction 5.13) [34] or
propoxylation of the mixture between polyols and polyacids (e.g., sorbitol and AA,
Reaction 5.14) give rise to interesting rigid polyester polyols [34]:
CO CO
O O + 2 HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
CO CO
COOH
COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
HOCO
COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
COOH CH3
COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH 4x CH2 CH
+
HOCO O
COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
CH3
COOH CH3
HOCO C OH + 4x CH2 CH
COOH O
118
Polyester Polyols for Rigid Polyurethane Foams
The alkoxylation of these structures, having carboxyl groups and hydroxyl groups,
is a self-catalysis process, catalysed by the acidic -COOH groups. Two simultaneous
reactions take place: the esterification of carboxyl groups with PO (Reaction 5.15)
and the etherification of hydroxyl groups (Reaction 5.16) [34]:
CH2OH
CHOH
CH3
HOCH
+ HOCOCH2CH2CH2COOH + 8x CH2 CH
CHOH
Adipic acid O
CHOH
CH2OH CH3
Sorbitol CH2O CH2CHO H
x
CH3
CHO CH2CHO H
CH3 x
H OCHCH2 OCH
x CH3
CHO CH2CHO H
x
CH3
CHO CH2CHO H
x
CH3
CH2O CH2CHO H
x
CH3 + CH3
H OCHCH2 OCOCH2CH2CH2CHCOO CH2CHO H
x x (5.15)
CH3 CH3
COOH + CH2 CH COOCH2CHOH
O (5.16)
119
Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes, 2nd Edition, Volume 2
One disadvantage of this method is the very long time needed in the last part of
the reaction to decrease the acidity number to less than 2 mg KOH/g (i.e., several
hours). Sometimes, the esterification with PO of the last unreacted -COOH groups
needs a catalyst such as: KOH [20–22], sodium or potassium acetate [20–22], DMC
catalysts, tertiary amines and so on. Another disadvantage is the presence of a discrete
and characteristic odour, due to the formation of some side products in very small
quantities (e.g., cyclic compounds).
Practically all the polyester polyols based on DEG or DPG are in fact ether-ester
polyols, because they have in the same structure ether and ester groups.
The most important structures of rigid polyester polyols presented in this chapter
are the low functionality aromatic polyester polyols with terephthalic or phthalic
structures, used for PUR/PIR rigid foam.
References
7. J.M. Hughes and J.L. Clinton, Journal of Cellular Plastics, 1980, 16, 3, 152.
8. J.M. Hughes and J.L. Clinton in Proceedings of the SPI 25th Annual Urethane
Division Technical Conference, Polyurethanes – Looking Ahead to the
Eighties, Scottsdale, AZ, USA, 1979, p.6.
120
Polyester Polyols for Rigid Polyurethane Foams
11. S.C. Snider and A. DeLeon, inventors; Celotex Corp., assignee; US4411949,
1983.
12. J.S. Canaday and M.J. Skowronski, Journal of Cellular Plastics, 1985, 21, 5,
338.
13. W.L. Carlstrom, R.T. Stoehr and G.R. Svoboda in Proceedings of the SPI
28th Annual Technical/Marketing Conference, Polyurethane Marketing and
Technology – Partners in Progress, San Antonio, TX, USA, 1984, p.65.
14. W.L. Carlstrom, R.W. Reineck and G.R. Svoboda, inventors; Freeman
Chemical Corp., assignee; US4223068, 1980.
15. G.R. Svoboda, W.L. Carlstrom and R.T. Stoehr, inventors; Freeman Chemical
Corp., assignee; US4417001, 1983.
17. J.A. Murphy and B.C. Wilbur, Journal of Cellular Plastics, 1985, 21, 2, 105.
18. J.M. Gaul, J.A. Murphy and B.C. Wilbur in Proceedings of UTECH ‘86
Conference, The Hague, The Netherlands, 1986, p.20.
19. R.A. Grigsby, Jr., G.P. Speranza and M.E. Brennan, inventors; Texaco, Inc.,
assignee; US4469824, 1984.
21. G.P. Speranza, R.A. Grigsby, Jr., and M.E. Brennan, inventors; Texaco, Inc.,
assignee; US4485196, 1984.
23. R.K. Hallmark, M.J. Skrowronski and W.D. Stephens, inventors; Jim Walter
Resources, assignee; EP0152915A3, 1987.
121
Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes, 2nd Edition, Volume 2
24. S.C. Cohen, M.J. Cartmell and R.K. Brown in Proceedings of the SPI
6th International Technical/Marketing Conference, Polyurethane – New Paths
to Progress, San Diego, CA, USA, 1983, p.101.
26. T.A. Barber, T.R. McClellan, inventors; E.I. DuPont de Nemours, assignee;
CA2493024, 2004.
28. K.B. White and W.J. Largent, inventors; Akzo NV, assignee; EP0122649,
1984
29. K.B. White, B. Largent, L. Jirka and B. Bailey in Proceedings of the SPI
29th Annual Technical/Marketing Conference, Magic of Polyurethanes, Reno,
NV, USA, 1985, p.72.
31. M.R. Cartmell, S.C. Cohen and A.T. Hurst, Journal of Fire Sciences, 1983, 1,
6, 403
32. W.G. Carroll and I.D. Rosbotham, inventors; ICI plc, assignee; EP0161039,
1985.
33. D.M. Young, F. Hostettler, L.K. Shriver and R.W. Laughlin in the Proceedings
of the 130th Meeting of the ACS Division of Paint, Plastics and Printing,
Atlantic City, NJ, USA, 1956.
34. D.M. Young and F. Hostettler, inventors; Union Carbide Corp., assignee;
US3051687, 1962.
35. C.H. Smith, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Product Research &
Development, 1963, 2, 1, 27.
122