Degradation of polyurethane soft foam with triethyl phosphate

The recycling of polymer waste and used polymers is one of the appropriate methods to protect natural resources and reduce environmental pressure. Chemical degradation of polyurethanes includes hydrolysis, alcoholysis and amine hydrolysis.

The Institute for Polymer Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has developed a highly efficient method for decomposing waste polyurethanes by converting polyurethane wastes to phosphoric acid esters or phosphonate esters and converting them into reusable products. The resulting product can be used to produce polymers with low flammability, high adhesion, and high UV radiation resistance, including polyurethanes.

After research, polyester polyols or polyether polyols and TDI-based flexible polyurethane foams are treated with triethyl phosphate [(C2H5O)3P=O] to convert quantitatively into liquid products, which are phosphorus-containing polyurethane oligomers. Things.