In this work, polyurethane systems were explored to assess the feasibility of producing foam and adhesives that could utilize bio-based monomers and polymers and biodegrade in industrial and home composting environments. Poly(1,3-propylene-1,4-butylene glutarate) (PPBG) was synthesized from monomers that can be bio-sourced. Foam formulations utilizing PPBG and three common isocyanates, Methylenediphenyl-4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), were evaluated for biodegradation in industrial compost concluding that PPBG-HDI based foams show potential for biodegradation while the TDI and MDI based foams don’t. Furthermore PPBG-HDI based foams produced exhibited shape memory foam characteristics that were explored using DMA. Isocyanate prepolymers made from PPBG and sebacic acid diisocyanate (SADI) were synthesized and used to adhere polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) films to viscose. These films were evaluated for biodegradation in a home composting environment and were found to show promise as a biodegradable multilayered film.
