Closed-loop recycling of automotive semi-rigid polyurethane foam using renewable coconut oil

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216305%3A26310%2F26%3A0201722" target="_blank" >RIV/00216305:26310/26:0201722 - isvavai.cz</a>

Výsledek na webu

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479726004445?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479726004445?via%3Dihub</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.128984" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.128984</a>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Closed-loop recycling of automotive semi-rigid polyurethane foam using renewable coconut oil

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

The automotive sector represents one of the major application fields for polyurethane (PUR) materials, but their end-of-life management still remains a significant sustainability challenge. This study presents a closed-loop recycling approach for semi-rigid PUR foams employed as interior acoustic insulation in automotive headliners. A bio-based transesterified coconut oil was utilized as a sustainable solvolysis reagent to depolymerize automotive PUR waste and recover recycled polyol. The regenerated recycled polyol exhibited suitable hydroxyl value and viscosity, allowing direct substitution of up to 40 wt% of standard polyol in industrial formulations of semi-rigid PUR foam. The PUR foam with incorporated recycled polyol exhibited good structural integrity, sufficient stiffness due to the presence of aromatic structures, along with balanced flexibility derived from glyceride chain segments, thereby avoiding brittleness. The laboratory-scale formulation was successfully scaled up for the production of an industrial headliner demonstrator, confirming the practical feasibility of recycled polyol use in real manufacturing conditions. This work highlights a circular and sustainable strategy for PURbased automotive components, reducing dependence on petrochemical feedstocks and mitigating environmental impacts.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Closed-loop recycling of automotive semi-rigid polyurethane foam using renewable coconut oil

Popis výsledku anglicky

The automotive sector represents one of the major application fields for polyurethane (PUR) materials, but their end-of-life management still remains a significant sustainability challenge. This study presents a closed-loop recycling approach for semi-rigid PUR foams employed as interior acoustic insulation in automotive headliners. A bio-based transesterified coconut oil was utilized as a sustainable solvolysis reagent to depolymerize automotive PUR waste and recover recycled polyol. The regenerated recycled polyol exhibited suitable hydroxyl value and viscosity, allowing direct substitution of up to 40 wt% of standard polyol in industrial formulations of semi-rigid PUR foam. The PUR foam with incorporated recycled polyol exhibited good structural integrity, sufficient stiffness due to the presence of aromatic structures, along with balanced flexibility derived from glyceride chain segments, thereby avoiding brittleness. The laboratory-scale formulation was successfully scaled up for the production of an industrial headliner demonstrator, confirming the practical feasibility of recycled polyol use in real manufacturing conditions. This work highlights a circular and sustainable strategy for PURbased automotive components, reducing dependence on petrochemical feedstocks and mitigating environmental impacts.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

Projekt

—

Návaznosti

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Rok uplatnění

2026

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

Journal of Environmental Management

ISSN

0301-4797

e-ISSN

1095-8630

Svazek periodika

401

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

March

Stát vydavatele periodika

GB - Spojené království Velké Británie a Severního Irska

Počet stran výsledku

13

Strana od-do

128984-128984

Kód UT WoS článku

001693835800001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-105030144042