Synthesis and characterization of polyurethane elastomers from polyol-suspensions of castor oil and yucca starch

A double modification of castor oil by means of transesterification with pentaerythritol followed by incorporation of yucca starch was conducted. This led to obtaining the so-called polyol-suspensions, which were characterized by: hydroxyl value, viscosity and specific gravity. Polyurethane elastomers were then synthesized from the suspensions, using MDI as diisocyanate. The elastomers were characterized by tensile strength, hardness and resistance to chemical attack. In order to enhance the hydroxylic functionality and the percentage of amylopectin, different amounts of pentaerythritol and three starch species were used in the double modification; the ratio of the reactive functional groups NCO/OH in the synthesis was also varied. It was found that the addition of a 5% of starch to polyols caused increments of the hydroxyl value in the polyol-suspensions, as well as improvements of the physical-mechanical properties of synthesized materials, compared to those materials synthesized from independent ways of oil modification, therefore obtaining a wide range of materials.