Sustainable polymers producer Novomer (Waltham, Massachusetts / USA; www.novomer.com) has introduced two polypropylene carbonate (PPC) polyol grades for use in polyurethane formulations targeted at adhesives, coatings, sealants, elastomers, as well as rigid and flexible foams. “Converge” PPC is manufactured at the company’s facility in Houston, Texas / USA and the materials have been used commercially primarily in coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers applications.

The copolymers have been developed to replace conventional petroleum-based polyether, polyester, and polycarbonate polyols. They are based on the co-polymerisation of CO₂ and epoxides and the resulting products contain more than 40% by weight CO₂. Using CO₂ as a significant raw material results in a product with a low carbon footprint and lower production costs than conventional polyols when produced at commercial scale.

They have been developed with a polycarbonate backbone that increases the strength and durability of polyurethane products. Incorporating the polyols into existing formulations results in foams with higher tensile and tear strength and increased load bearing capacity, adhesives and coatings with improved adhesion, cohesive strength, and weatherability, and elastomers with greater tensile and flexural strength, the company said.