New thermal insulating polyurethane biofoams based on cherry seed oil

Cherry fruits were used in clean technologies for preparation of hydroxyl components applied in polyurethane foams. Polyphenols from cherry fruits helped to obtain a stable suspension of nanosilver particles dispersed in diethylene glycol, while cherry seeds constituted a renewable source of oil, which was transesterified into biopolyol. Such biocomponents containing nanosilver particles were applied to obtain open cell heat insulating polyurethane foams resistant to a fungus strain Candida albicans. The influence of nanosilver concentration in diethylene glycol, reaction temperature, and catalyst concentration on the biopolyols and the properties of the final foams were subjected to a statistical analysis. It was found that the following process conditions were crucial in obtaining the most desired foams (in terms of their physical and mechanical properties): the catalyst content—0.225%, the concentration of DEG with nanoAg—25%, temperature—188 °C. Such an approach allowed us to obtain open cell polyurethane foams in line with Green Chemistry rules.