Influence of Additives on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Rapeseed Oil Polyol-Based Rigid Polyurethane Foam as an Artificial Bone Model

In the field of medicine, simulating human bone is crucial as the actual human bone was difficult to obtain. Orthopedic doctors use artificial bone models extensively for surgical practice, especially bone fracture repairs. Human artificial bones made from polyurethane foam offer a viable alternative, closely mimicking natural human bone properties. Polyol and isocyanate are combined with additives like a blowing agent (distilled water), catalysts, and surfactants to modify their physical and mechanical properties to create this rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF). Due to environmental concerns, there is growing interest in renewable-based polyol for polyurethane foam production, but the study on additive impacts with renewable-based polyol is limited. This study investigates the effects of specific additives (distilled water as a blowing agent, amine as catalyst, and silicon glycol as surfactant) on rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) made with renewable-based rapeseed oil polyol. Various parameters, including amounts of distilled water of 0.2, 0.6, and 1.0 g per hundred grams of polyol (pphp), catalyst of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 pphp, and surfactant of 2, 4, and 10 pphp had been tested. The RPUF samples were then tested following ASTM F-1839 standards, evaluating macrography, density, void content, compressive strength, compressive modulus, and SEM. The research shows that higher distilled water content in RPUF reduces its physical and mechanical characteristics as larger cell sizes and thinner foam cell walls are formed. In contrast, higher catalyst concentrations improve RPUF’s physical and mechanical properties by expediting gelling and blowing reactions, forming smaller, thicker foam cell walls. Similarly, higher surfactant content improves RPUF’s properties by reducing surface tension, enhancing polyol dissolution and homogeneity, resulting in more foam cells during the reaction and preventing cell growth. The study reveals that with addition of catalyst provides the highest effect on the properties of RPUF.