Fabrication of novel formulations from rigid polyurethane foams and mortar for potential applications in building industry

Rigid polyurethane (PU) foams are widely used in modern life owing to excellent strength and weight carrying capacity. Most of the rigid PU foams in the market are based on polypropylene oxide (PPO) and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. Amine catalysts, especially tertiary amines, are used to balance both the gelling and gas-foaming reactions, responsible for foam formation. The objective of present work is to prepare rigid PU foams from PPO based polyol and 4,4′- methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The morphological and mechanical properties of polyurethane foam using tertiary amine and water blowing agent have been investigated. Moreover, acoustic and thermal insulation of polyurethane foam ordinary Portland cement mortar formulations were also examined. The results indicated that polyurethane ordinary Portland cement mortar formulations have good sound absorption and thermal insulation characteristics compared to blank formulations.