30 September 2016
DETAILS
The action radius of carbon dioxide
as a chemical building block for plastics
may soon be significantly expanded.
Covestro is collaborating with partners
in industry and research to explore
how CO2 can also be used as a component
in insulating foam and
other products of the plastics industry.
The three-year “Dream Resource” research project
was launched for this purpose, with funding from
the German Federal Ministry
of Education and Research (BMBF).
At least 20 percent CO2 content planned
* CO2 and ethylene oxide could be used,
for example,
to make the building blocks (polyols)
for rigid polyurethane foam,
a common insulating material
in buildings and refrigeration systems.
Another possibility is molded foam
for automobile seats.
CO2-EO compounds could also feasibly
be used to produce additives.
* In the Production Dreams project,
which has been running for some time,
Covestro and its partners
have already developed the technology required
to use CO2 in elastomers.
These are solid but moldable plastics
used in articles such as hoses and seals.
* Another process already
is in the implementation stage:
It is about producing
polyols for flexible polyurethane foam
based on CO2 and the reactant propylene oxide.
Covestro commissioned a new production plant
for this technology at its Dormagen site,
outside Cologne, Germany in June.
The new foams are initially intended for use
in mattresses and upholstered furniture.
The first products are scheduled
for market launch in the near future.
WWW.CHEMWINFO.COM BY KHUN PHICHAI
