Sustainable Interpenetrating Polymer Networks using Waste Cooking Oil-Based Polyurethane and Polystyrene

This study focuses on the synthesis of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) using waste cooking oil (WCO)-based polyurethane (PU) and polystyrene (PS) through a simultaneous method.The incorporation of IPN structures allows for the production of materials with desirable properties, particularly in terms of swelling behaviour due to the physical interlocking between the polymer networks.The present study aims to explore the utilisation of WCO as an environmentally friendly alternative, reducing its potential harm to the environment.WCO, being easily accessible and cost-effective, exhibits significant potential in product development.In this study, WCO was modified via transesterification to obtain WCO polyol, which was then utilised in the synthesis of the polyurethane network with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) using stannous octoate (SnO4) as a catalyst.Simultaneously, styrene was incorporated with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator.The addition of trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) in different percentages served as a crosslinking agent to form IPN, which was subsequently cast into films.The resulting films were characterised using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and their physical properties were tested by a swelling test.FTIR confirmed the formation of IPN structures, while the swelling behaviour exhibited promising results attributed to the presence of TMPTA as a crosslinker.