Synthesis and properties of polyurethane resins based on liquefied wood

Three polyurethane resins were synthesized from liquefied wood and three diisocyanates, i.e., TDI, IPDI, and HDI. The liquefied wood was obtained by the liquefaction of benzylated wood wastes using Dibasic esters (DBE) as solvent with hydrochloric acid as catalyst for 3 h, at 80°C. The thermal stability and microphase morphology of polyurethane films were investigated by TG, DSC, WAXD, and SEM methods. The experimental results indicated that polyurethane resins from liquefied wood had higher thermal stability than traditional ones, and the special structure and the difference of chemical structure of diisocyanates resulted in the crytallinity and microphase separation of obtained polyurethanes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 351–356, 2004