Development Trend of Biomass Based Polyurethanes Centering onBiomass Based Isocyanates

Abstract

The shift from petroleum based plastics to biomass based plastics is one solution that can’t be avoided forthe global warming issues by reduction of CO2 emission in recent years. In the polyurethane market, naturaloil (biomass) based polyols have been applied in this market for a long time. On the other hand, biomass basedisocyanates haven’t almost been commercialized and applied due to the difficulty of the molecular design ofisocyanate. In recent years, new biomass feedstock have been available for the production of isocyanates. Inthis review, we explain about the development of new biomass based polyurethanes centering on biomassbased isocyanates. 1,5-penthamethylete diisocyanate (1,5-PDI; STABiO^TM PDI^TM) derived from L-lysine exhibitsimproved reactivity with alcohol compared to those of petroleum based 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)and the other commercialized aliphatic and alicyclic isocyanates. In addition, the polyurethane coatings basedon 1,5-PDI derivatives shows improved chemical resistance and mechanical properties than those of HDI basedones.