Making 'Cosmetic Cushions' Using Carbon Dioxide Catalysts

Pomworks foamed and processed eco-friendly polyol to manufacture cosmetic carrier cushions.

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] A technology has been developed to produce eco-friendly polyurethane cosmetic cushions (soft polyurethane foam) and building insulation materials (rigid polyurethane foam) using carbon dioxide, and prototype manufacturing has been successfully achieved.

On the 14th, the research team led by Dr. Deukhee Cho and Dr. Dongwoo Kim at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology announced the results of a research project titled "Development of Eco-friendly Polyurethane Materials Containing Carbon Dioxide," conducted in collaboration with KPX Chemical Co., Ltd., Foamworks Co., Ltd., Pusan National University, and Inje University, under an external competition by the Technology Planning Department of Korea Electric Power Corporation.

In this study, the Chemical Research Institute developed a catalytic process for the basic monomer material 'propylene carbonate,' which is the raw material for polyurethane materials, by utilizing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Pusan National University conducted research on the catalytic reaction mechanism of propylene carbonate, and Inje University studied the application expansion of polyols produced through this process.

Propylene carbonate is the basic raw material for 'polyol,' and polyol is the raw material for polyurethane. The research team produced 'propylene carbonate' and 'polyol' derived from it on a pilot scale and provided them to Foamworks Co., Ltd. and KPX Chemical Co., Ltd. Foamworks succeeded in manufacturing a cosmetic cushion, a soft form (flexible foam) of polyurethane, while KPX Chemical succeeded in producing a prototype of building insulation material, a rigid form (hard foam) of polyurethane.

The research team stated, "We have established a reactor capable of continuous mass production of the catalyst and are currently conducting follow-up research to improve the catalyst's reactivity."

Meanwhile, the research team has also been conducting synthesis research on various five-membered cyclic carbonates using carbon dioxide and catalysts. Five-membered cyclic carbonates are substances used as chemical raw materials in various fields and have a pentagonal molecular structure composed of carbon and oxygen.