Project

Punexgen: polyurethane next generation

Acronym
Punexgen
Code
179Q4509
Duration
01 January 2009 → 31 March 2011
Funding
Private funding via IWT/VLAIO
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Inorganic chemistry
    • Organic chemistry
    • Theoretical and computational chemistry
    • Other chemical sciences
Keywords
polyurethane
 
Project description

The goal of this project is the study of fundamental features that can lead to new concepts, methodologies and technologies. This should make it possible to achieve the following characteristics of polyurethane or to improve: - Fire-resistance and thermal stability: new foams and / or elastomers that meet the Crib5- or B2 rating (depending on the field of application) without the use of additional halogenated additives. In comparison with the reference material, the mechanical properties have to remain at least at 90%, with a maximum increase in cost of 5%; - Energy and vibration-absorption: for viscoelastic foams, the ball rebound values ​​should be less than 2%, within a temperature range of from -20 ° C to 60 ° C. For other uses of vibration-absorption would be new materials, as compared to the current available reference materials, need to have a wider temperature range, or an absorption efficiency of greater than 80% over the whole frequency range; - Stronger and lighter: for all materials (flexible and rigid foams, elastomers) mechanical strength should increase by 30% compared with the current values ​​for comparable or lower densities; - Adding chemical functionalities will create new structures that can bind chemicals or set free and so will give rise to new polyrethanen with specific characteristics; - Alternative polyrethaanmaterialen with fillers or obtained through new chemical pathways will be screened for their ability to respond to external triggers. If triggers are magnetic or electric fields are considered for physical composites. In the case of new chemical methodologies, pH and temperature will be considered, as in the case of '' smart 'materials. Evaluate properties are open-cell character, hardness or the absorption behavior. The end result will be the knowledge about the influence of these triggers on the selected properties.