Sustainability of Nonisocyanate Polyurethanes (NIPUs)

Jan Ozimek () and Krzysztof Pielichowski
Additional contact information
Jan Ozimek: Department of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Cracow University of Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Krakow, Poland
Krzysztof Pielichowski: Department of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Cracow University of Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Krakow, Poland

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-28

Abstract: This work discusses the synthesis and properties of nonisocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional polyurethanes. NIPUs are made without the use of toxic isocyanates, reducing the environmental impact and safety concerns associated with their production. However, their synthesis reactions often require longer time and more energy to be completed. The sustainability of NIPUs is considered from various angles; the main methods for the synthesis of NIPUs, including rearrangement reactions, transurethanization, and ring-opening polymerization of cyclic carbonates with amines, are examined. Another part focuses on renewable sources, such as vegetable oils, terpenes, tannins, lignins, sugars, and others. The synthesis of waterborne and solvent-free NIPUs is also discussed, as it further reduces the environmental impact by minimizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and avoiding the use of harmful solvents. The challenges faced by NIPUs, such as lower molecular weight and higher dispersity compared to traditional polyurethanes, which can affect mechanical properties, were also addressed. Improving the performance of NIPUs to make them more competitive compared to conventional polyurethanes remains a key task in future research.

Keywords: NIPU; sustainability; CO 2; cyclic carbonates; amines; LCA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/9911/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/9911/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:9911-:d:1520343

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().