Synthesis of biopolymers reinforced polyurethane composites for different applications
Sewwandi Rasanganie
QUT
Polyurethanes are useful in various applications, but they rely on non-renewable materials, raising sustainability concerns. Combining polyurethanes with biopolymers brings two advantages. It lessens our reliance on non-renewable resources and enhances the performance of biomaterials, addressing issues like extreme water sensitivity, short lifespan, and brittleness, which are drawbacks when these materials are used alone.
This project focuses on extracting biopolymers -alginate, pectin and chitosan from brown seaweed, fruit peels and crustacean shells respectively. These materials will be used to develop polyurethane/biopolymer foam composites and polyurethane/biopolymer hydrogel composites.
