Poliuretanos libres de isocianatos (NIPUs) como alternativa a los poliuretanos convencionales

Abstract

Conventional polyurethanes have been employed since their development in 1937 thanks to their great properties versatility and easy and fast synthesis. Regardless these advantages, the intrinsic toxicity of the isocyanates as well as the highly toxic phosgene involve in their synthesis is causing some environmental issues. Consequently, in the last decade non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) synthesis pathways are attracting large attention from academia looking for greener and more sustainable pathways for polyurethane synthesis. Regardless the vast study done in the field, the industrial application of the NIPUs compared to conventional polyurethanes is negligible due to the low reactivity of cyclic carbonates at room temperature, no phase separation of NIPUs and the problems to prepare foams in an efficient manner. In this work the most significant advances in these areas are shown and the importance of a greater collaboration between industry and academia is emphasized to push an early implementation of NIPUs in the market