Synthesis and Characterization, and Recycle of Polyurethane and Starch-Based Polyurethane

Liang, Shirley Suet Li (2025) Synthesis and Characterization, and Recycle of Polyurethane and Starch-Based Polyurethane. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

Polyurethane (PU) is extensively used in a wide range of industries due to its versatile properties; however, its environmental impact, particularly in terms of biodegradability, remains a pressing issue. In this study, pristine PU(PPU) and starch-based PU(SPU), incorporating starch as a biodegradable filler into the PU matrix to develop more sustainable PU products. Following synthesis, both PUs were subjected to be chemically recycled through the acidolysis process via conventional heating (CH) and microwave synthesis reactor (MSR) to investigate their reusability. Analytical techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and contact angle analyses had been performed to compare the structural integrity, thermal stability, and hydrophobicity of the recycled PU’s compared to the original synthesized PUs. The FTIR spectra show no significant change of the characterization peak for the synthesized and recycled PUs. In TGA analysis, the thermogram shows that the recycled PUs have higher residue than the original synthesized ones, and the PU recycled using MSR have a significant decrease in the first degradation temperature. There is no significant change of Tg in the DSC analysis. The recycling experiments demonstrated that both the pristine and starch-based PU retained their key properties after recycling, showing minimal degradation in FTIR, TGA, and DSC results.