Relement has successfully integrated bio MPA (biobased 3-methylphthalic anhydride) in a (polyester, polyether) polyol for use in polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foams. Such foams are often used as insulation material in buildings.
Since there is more attention for sustainable building materials and energy conservation measures, increasing the biobased content of such materials is of interest. Petrochemical phthalic anhydride is often used as an ingredient in aromatic, rigid PUR and PIR foam. Relement’s launching product bio MPA can be used as a biobased substitute and performance enhancer. Due to steric hindrance of the additional methyl group in bio MPA compared to phthalic anhydride, it is expected that bio MPA based insulation foams will be more rigid, improving the compressive and tensile properties and increasing the glass transition temperature. In collaboration with Avans Applied University in the Netherlands, Relement successfully synthesized basic polyester polyols with bio MPA.