Bio-Based Polyurethane Foams: Feedstocks, Synthesis, and Applications

Polyurethanes (PUs) are extremely versatile materials used across different industries. Traditionally, they are synthesized by reacting polyols and isocyanates, both of which are petroleum-derived reagents. In response to the demand for more eco-friendly materials, research has increasingly focused...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marta Santos, Marcos Mariz, Igor Tiago, Susana Alarico, Paula Ferreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/5/680
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Summary:Polyurethanes (PUs) are extremely versatile materials used across different industries. Traditionally, they are synthesized by reacting polyols and isocyanates, both of which are petroleum-derived reagents. In response to the demand for more eco-friendly materials, research has increasingly focused on developing new routes for PU synthesis using renewable feedstocks. While substituting isocyanates remains a greater challenge, replacing fossil-based polyols with bio-based alternatives is now a promising strategy. This review explores the main natural sources and their transformations into bio-polyols, the incorporation of bio-fillers into PU formulations, and the production of non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs). Additionally, the study summarizes the growing body of research that has reported successful outcomes using bio-polyols in PU foams for distinct applications.
ISSN:2218-273X