RBF301-G Green: The Sustainable Future of Polyurethane
We have long been committed to the research and development of more sustainable innovative solutions that can reduce environmental impact, improve efficiency, and contribute to a more responsible future.
We are proud to announce another milestone achieved towards sustainability by developing a more sustainable version of the rigid polyurethane system RBF301-G.
- Innovation and Sustainability in Polyurethanes
- A Clear Goal: Greater Sustainability
- Research and Development Process
- Green Raw Materials: A New Chemical Balance
- Laboratory Tests and Analysis
- POL001 Replacement and System Stability Verification
- Final Laboratory Tests and Analysis of the New RBF301Ghp Green System
- POL003 Replacement with Vegetable Oils in the Final Formulation and System Stability Verification
- Chemical-Physical and Mechanical Performance
- FOAMAT Testing: Kinetics, Flow, and Density
- Dimensional Stability and Mechanical Resistance
- Thermal Conductivity
- Conclusions: A Green Polyurethane Without Compromises
Innovation and Sustainability in Polyurethanes
Europoliuretani continues investing in research and development of more sustainable solutions to reduce the sector’s environmental impact.
A significant step in this direction is the development of a greener version of the RBF301-G rigid polyurethane system.
The new RBF301-G Green.
Research and Development Process
Green Raw Materials: A New Chemical Balance
The company started from the base formulation of the RBF301-Ghp (High Performance) product, identifying the most commonly used fossil-based polyols (POL001- POL003 – POL005).
To make the system more sustainable, Europoliuretani carefully selected plant-based polyols with suitable chemical-physical characteristics to replace fossil-based ones.
*The average OH number is the parameter that indicates the distance of the OH (hydroxyl) functional groups present within a single molecule.
*Average Functionality is the parameter that indicates the number of OH (hydroxyl) functional groups present within a single molecule.
Based on a careful comparison of chemical-physical characteristics, it was observed how fossil-based polyols could be replaced:
- POL001
→ Castor plant
→ Green polyol obtained from vegetable oils and wood
→ Green polyol obtained from the cashew nut shell - POL003 → Green polyol derived from vegetable oils and wood
- POL005 → No possible substitution, as plant-based alternatives did not ensure sufficient stability.
Laboratory Tests and Analysis
POL001 Replacement and System Stability Verification
Extensive tests were conducted to identify the suitable plant-based polyol:
- Replacement with Castor Oil → Negative
When completely replacing POL001 with castor oil, the formulation exhibited phase separation.
This phenomenon is due to the chemical nature of castor oil, which consists of both a non-polar and a polar part.
The non-polar part of the oil creates two distinct phases in the final formulation: one polar and one non-polar.
- Replacement with Vegetable Oils and Wood → Negative
By completely replacing POL001 with a green polyol derived from vegetable oils and wood, the formulation exhibits phase separation. This phenomenon is linked to the chemical nature of the green polyol, which consists of both a non-polar and a polar part, similar to castor oil. In addition to this, the shrinkage of the polyurethane foam is due to its chemical composition, which generates bonds incapable of ensuring the material’s stability.
- Replacement with Green Polyol from Cashew Nut Shell → Positive
When completely replacing POL001 with a green polyol derived from cashew nut shell, the formulation showed no phase separation or shrinkage of the polyurethane foam.
Final Laboratory Tests and Analysis of the New RBF301Ghp Green System
Replacement of POL003 with Vegetable Oils in the Final Formulation and Verification of System Stability
After replacing POL001 with the green polyol derived from cashew nut shell, the total replacement of POL003 with vegetable oils was carried out, reaching 34% of plant-based raw materials in the polyol formulation. 34%.
The final formulation did not present any separation or shrinkage issues, showing excellent compatibility with the other system components.
After identifying the optimal substitutions, the system underwent further tests to ensure performance comparable to RBF301-Ghp.
Chemical-Physical and Mechanical Performance
FOAMAT Testing: Kinetics, Flow, and Density
To ensure efficient polyurethane foam, reaction kinetics, expansion time, and free density were studied.
FOAMAT Testing: Kinetics, Flow, and Density
The obtained polyurethane foam was subjected to extreme conditions (70°C, 90% relative humidity for 48 hours) to evaluate dimensional stability:
- Test passed – foam shrinkage falls within acceptable criteria.
Compression resistance – the new formulation requires 10% more force to deform, demonstrating superior resistance compared to RBF301-Ghp.
Thermal Conductivity
In the final test, thermal conductivity of the material was evaluated, i.e., the ability of materials to transmit heat (the lower this parameter, the more insulating the material is).
The insulating capacity of the new polyurethane was tested both immediately after production and after 15 days at 70°C:
- Freshly produced: 0.24646 W/mK
- After aging: 0.28554 W/mK (variation of only 1%)
The “green” formulation passed the test, as the thermal conductivity values deviated by only 1% from the reference value.
Conclusions: A Green Polyurethane Without Compromises
The RBF301-G Green systemrepresents a revolution in the polyurethane sector, combining sustainability and high performance.
The results demonstrate that with, 15% plant-based raw materials in the system and 34% considering only the polyol formulation, the new RBF301-G Green not only meets the required technical standards but also paves the way for a more responsible use of natural resources.
This project showcases Europoliuretani’s commitment to creating innovative products that address environmental sustainability while maintaining high quality and operational efficiency.
