Innovative method to prepare polyester polyols intended for the production of footwear soles

A new technology for the production of polyester polyols using a newly separated side stream from the cyclohexane oxidation process as a raw material was developed. The innovation consisted in the introduction of the stage of separation of the waste product stream, which allowed to obtain a fraction with composition suitable to ensure optimal properties of the synthesized polyol intended for polyurethane systems used in the production of footwear soles. The obtained prepolyester fraction was characterized by a high content of bifunctional aliphatic compounds, with a minor share of low molecular weight monoacids, contributing to the deterioration of final product quality. The fraction resulting from the separation is an alternative raw material to the commonly used adipic acid. The parameters of footwear soles manufactured from microporous polyurethanes based on the obtained polyesters were evaluated. It was found that polyesters produced from new raw material are characterized by similar or higher physical and mechanical properties in comparison to the existing products of Purinova Company.