Glycolysis of flexible polyurethane foam in recycling of car seats

Abstract Flexible polyurethane foam scrap was chemically decomposed via glycolysis. Optimal reaction conditions for glycolysis were determined: temperature, 220°C, polyurethane/glycol ratio, 1:1; reaction time, 2.5 hr; diethylene glycol or dipropylene glycol as reagents. Two types of polyurethane scrap were tested; both gave the recycled polyols having the same properties, which is advantageous for possible applications on a commercial scale. A mixture of the virgin and recycled polyols (up to 36 wt%) was used to manufacture rigid polyurethane foams. No undesirable influence of the recyclates on process parameters (cream time, gel time) was found. The end‐use properties of the rigid foams were practically the same in the whole range of tested concentrations of recyclates. A fine cellular structure of all tested foams was found. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.