Influence of cellulose-modified polyols on the properties of rigid polyurethane foam

Abstract Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) is widely used for its lightweight and thermal insulation properties, but faces challenges of flammability and environmental impact from fossil-based raw materials. This study investigates cellulose-modified polyols as renewable additives to enhance RPUF performance [1-3]. Results show that hydroxyl-mediated crosslinking forms a rigid network, optimizing properties at 10 g addition: density 49.1 kg/m3, 23% higher compressive strength (0.18 MPa), 2.19% volume shrinkage, and limiting oxygen index (LOI) 24.3%. This formulation reduces reliance on traditional flame retardants, offering a green design strategy for polyurethanes.[4-5]