Biopolymers are an emerging application of castor oil and its derivatives. These biopolymers include castor based polyamides and castor based polyurethanes. (See also Castor Oil Biopolymers – Part II)
Castor Oil Polyurethane
Castor oil is increasingly finding application in the manufacture of polyurethane foams. The polyurethane is produced from polyols based on castor oil.
The world polyurethane market size is over $50 billion.
Features of Castor Oil Based Polyurethane:
Castor oil polyurethane is
- Superior to PPG (Polypropylene Glycol) or polyester in water and hydrolysis resistance
- Superior to PPG or polyester in insulation
- Lower viscosity than polybutadiene or polyester
- A challenging issue of polyurethane flooring is heat and humidity. The urethane produced from castor oil is stable under high heat and humidity.