Dr. Jakub Grzybek, Dr. Jakub Sandak, Erfan Asgari, Dr. Rok Prislan and Dr. Anna Sandak, together with NewWave project partners AEP Polymers and BTG Biomass Technology Group, recently published a new scientific article “Pyrolysis Oil-Based Polyurethane Foams as a Middle Layer of the Composite Plywood Sandwich Panels for Sustainable Construction” in the Forest journal (MDPI).

The article presents a comprehensive comparison of plywood sandwich panels manufactured with a rigid PUR foam containing a fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO)-derived sugar polyol diluted with triethyl phosphate and panels of identical topology produced with a commercial reference PUR foam.

Both systems were characterized at the foam and panel levels for cellular microstructure, skeletal and envelope density, thermogravimetric stability, flammability, color, thermal conductivity and heat capacity, internal bond strength, compressive properties, and normal-incidence sound absorption and transmission loss.

Overall, the results indicate that partial substitution of the fossil polyol with an FPBO-derived sugar polyol is technically feasible, yielding materials with comparable thermal, mechanical, or acoustic performance. The results support the potential of pyrolysis-derived bio-polyols for use in sustainable structural insulation products.