- CO2-based polyol production at “Multi-Thousand”-ton plant
- CO2 content more than 40% by weight
- Polycarbonate backbone increases tensile and tear strength
Novomer Inc. has announced the commercial introduction of polypropylene carbonate (PPC) polyols for use in polyurethane formulations targeted at adhesive, coatings, sealants, elastomers, and rigid and flexible foams. The company’s initial products, 1000 and 2000 molecular weight grades, are manufactured at a multi-thousand-ton commercial-scale toll facility in Houston, Texas.
The Polyols, being marketed under the tradename of ‘Converge’, are designed to replace conventional petroleum-based polyether, polyester, and polycarbonate polyols. They are based on the co-polymerization of carbon dioxide (CO2) and epoxides and the resulting products contain more than 40% by weight CO2. The use of waste CO2 as a significant raw material yields a product with an extremely low carbon footprint. In addition, since waste CO2 is significantly lower in cost than conventional petroleum-based raw materials, the polyol manufacturing costs are favorable compared to conventional polyols when produced at full commercial scale.
In terms of performance, Converge polyols have a polycarbonate backbone which increases the strength and durability of polyurethane products. Incorporating these new polyols into existing formulations yields foams with higher tensile and tear strength, and increased load bearing capacity. In addition, the high CO2 content enabled by Novomer’s proprietary technology produces polyols with a calorific content (heat of combustion) that is 40% to 50% lower than conventional polyether, polyester, and polycarbonate polyols. This feature is especially important in polyurethane applications that must meet strict flammability requirements.
Picture: Rigid foam with Novomer PPC Polyol produced on high-pressure foam machine with an average cell size of ~150 microns (source: Novomer).
