This year’s first issue of the Przemysł Chemiczny industry monthly published a research paper “Comparative analysis of the contribution of terephthalic and adipic structures to the properties of polyols and polyurethane foams”. The publication summarizes the research work completed by the team composed of Wieslaw Tarnawski, D.Eng., Mateusz Tokarski, M.Eng., Ewa Michno, M.Eng., and Malgorzata Warzocha, M.Eng.

The paper disseminates the results of research on the quantitative contribution of aromatic structures derived from terephthalic acid and of aliphatic structures derived from adipic acid to the physical and chemical properties of polyols and polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foams based on polyols. The research shows that polyols containing only terephthalic units display increased viscosity over conditioning/ageing time, ultimately turning unctuous after 7 days. The introduction of aliphatic units reduces viscosity and improves stability of the polyol over time.
The research results demonstrate that the fire resistance of foam test samples increases with the increase in the number of terephthalic units in the polyol structure.

Based on the research results, the ratio of terephthalic to adipic units in the polyol structure can be optimized for a practical industrial use, ensuring the desired in-application viscosity and improved fire resistance. An extra economic benefit comes from the reduction in the share of flame retardants required to be added in such processes.
The research results have a particular significance from the environmental point of view, as they provide for the utilization of recycled PET in chemical recycling processes.

The Przemysł Chemiczny is the longest-published industry journal in Poland, with superb brand recognition in the industry. Since 1964, the monthly has been indexed in the ISI (Philadelphia) List of the best scientific journals globally. The monthly is also listed in the index of scientific journals of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.