Taking the isocyanate out of polyurethanes

摘要

Among the bulk polymers used in coatings and adhesive, conventional polyurethanes have proved to be one of the most difficult to produce entirely from biomaterials. There are plenty of polyurethanes on the market with bio-based polyols that are reacted with isocyanates to form the polymer. But, to make a green isocyanate - which is formed by treating amines with phosgene - would be a massive scientific challenge.